Patsy Mink
Patsy Matsu Takemoto Mink (Japanese: 竹本まつ; December 6, 1927 – September 28, 2002) was an American politician. She was the U.S. Representative for the 1st and 2nd Districts of Hawaii. Mink was the first woman of color in the U.S. Congress.
Patsy Mink | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, c. 1994 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Hawaii | |
| In office September 22, 1990 – September 28, 2002 | |
| Preceded by | Daniel Akaka |
| Succeeded by | Ed Case |
| Constituency | 2nd district |
| In office January 3, 1965 – January 3, 1977 | |
| Preceded by | Thomas Gill |
| Succeeded by | Daniel Akaka |
| Constituency | At-large Seat B (1965–1971) 2nd district (1971–1977) |
| Member of the Honolulu City Council from the 9th district | |
| In office December 1, 1982 – December 1, 1986 | |
| Succeeded by | John DeSoto |
| 3rd Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs | |
| In office March 28, 1977 – May 1, 1978 | |
| President | Jimmy Carter |
| Preceded by | Frederick Irving |
| Succeeded by | Thomas R. Pickering |
| Secretary of the House Democratic Caucus | |
| In office January 3, 1975 – January 3, 1977 | |
| Leader | Carl Albert |
| Preceded by | Leonor Sullivan |
| Succeeded by | Shirley Chisholm |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Patsy Matsu Takemoto December 6, 1927 Hāmākua Poko, Hawaii Territory, U.S. |
| Died | September 28, 2002 (aged 74) Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S. |
| Resting place | National Cemetery of the Pacific |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | John Mink |
| Children | 1 |
| Education | Wilson College University of Nebraska–Lincoln University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (BS) University of Chicago (JD) |
Early life and education
changeMink was born in Paia on the island of Maui in Hawaii.[1] She was the daughter of Japanese American parents. She was a Sansei, which means that she was the granddaughter of people born in Japan who immigrated to the US.[2]
She graduated from the University of Hawaii and she earned a law degree from the University of Chicago.[3]: 54
Congressional career
changeMink was the first woman of color to be elected into Congress.[4] She spent her time in Congress speaking out and writing laws related to gender equality in education. Mink was also the first woman to be an approved lawyer in the state of Hawaii.[5] Mink founded the Oahu Young Democrats in 1954.[5] In 1962, she finally won a seat in the Hawaii Senate.[5]
Mink helped write the Women's Educational Equity Act which provides 30 million dollars per year to promote gender equality in schools. It also increases educational and job opportunities for women. Along with that, she was the co-writer of the Title IX law which requires public schools to provide equal and fair treatment to all genders in education.[6] Mink was the first Asian American to run for president. During her second time in congress, Mink co-founded the Congressional Asian Pacific American Council. She also protested against the promotion of Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court after claims of sexual harassment.[7] In 1977 she served under President Jimmy Carter as assistant secretary of state for oceans and international, environmental and scientific affairs. Mink was a member of Congress until her death in 2002.[6]
References
change- ↑ "MINK, Patsy Takemoto, 1927 – 2002". Biographical Dictionary of the United States Congress. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
- ↑ Nomura, Gail M. (1998). "Japanese American Women". In Mankiller, Wilma (ed.). The Reader's Companion to U.S. Women's History. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. pp. 288–290. ISBN 9780618001828. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
- ↑ Kuersten, Ashlyn K. (2003). Women and the Law: Leaders, Cases, and Documents. Bloomsbury Academic. ISBN 9780874368789. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
- ↑ Wu, Judy Tzu-Chun; Mink, Gwendolyn (1 June 2022). "How Congress' First Woman of Color Helped Craft Title IX". Time. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Alexander, Kerri Lee. "Biography: Patsy Mink". National Women's History Museum. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "MINK, Patsy Takemoto". US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives. Archived from the original on 3 April 2022. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
- ↑ Resnik, Judith (25 September 2018). "This question changed the face of the Supreme Court". CNN. Retrieved 4 December 2023.