“Mankani strode away feeling proud. Now he must share this pride with his inspiration—Shassi, his mate and, for many years, the source of his own strength. She was not the woman she once had been. Malaria had taken its lasting grip on her physical being. But to the man she loved, Shassi’s stature could not possibly diminish.” (Bentari—Ch. 10 “The Crocodile and the Plover”)

Bentari is a story about a war-time battle, the men who wage it and the boy who finds himself swept into the tides of conflict. Yet there are large roles filled by the important women in the community. These roles are more than supporting roles. They are fulfilling and completing roles. In their right, they are leading roles. They are “fight the leopard” roles and guard the homeland roles. Women—leading, protecting, teaching—they are the ones whose strength and wisdom show the populace “Why.”

Eslanda (Essie) Cardozo Goode Robeson[1] was the wife of a giant. Paul Robeson[2] was not just a very large man. He was a global figure whose talent and points of view made him a star and got him into deep, hot water—a place where he thrived for decades despite political obstacles until history proved him right. And at his side was Essie, his strong wife.

Essie thrived, too, but not in the giant shadow of her famous husband. Essie wrote her own story of leadership and unwavering strong will. She built successful careers in journalism and anthropology. She was a correspondent at the United Nations and for progressive Black publications.

She was an anti-colonialist at a time when this was a dangerous position. In 1936, she visited Africa for the first time. She met some of the leaders of the future African Congress. She believed that Africa should be ruled by Africans. She promoted African culture, its beauty and the strength of the people whom it represented.

We are more than grateful for all the important women in our world’s history. This blog entry is dedicated to Jane Elizabeth Tate Utzinger Hart, my beloved aunt (1925 – 2013). She was a tremendous role-model and leader in my life. Her deep care for children showed us the way. She tirelessly sought loving ways to motivate and educate every child she knew. She loved them all. She loved us all! Rest in peace, Dear Aunt Betty!

Read more about Eslanda Robeson, see Eslanda: the large and unconventional life of Mrs. Paul Robeson[3]

Images: Essie Robeson[4]; Aunt Betty[5] (family photo)

[1] See and listen about Eslanda at Democracy Now!: http://www.democracynow.org/2013/2/12/remembering_the_overlooked_life_eslanda_robeson

[2] See Bentari Project Blog 1/20/11 at: http://www.bentari.com/Blog/Entry.aspx?pid=276&bid=51&beid=814

[3] Available on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/books/dp/0300124341

[4] See: http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images?_adv_prop=image&fr=ytff1-tyc&va=eslanda+robeson

[5] See: http://obits.oregonlive.com/obituaries/oregon/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=165726465#fbLoggedOut