Remarks from Brenda Wolff, Upon Receiving the Tubman Douglass Award

Congratulations to WDC Board member and School Board member Brenda Wolff, recent recipient of the Maryland Democratic Party’s first-ever Tubman-Douglass Award.  

When asked by her daughter, Brenda said she thought she was more like Harriet Tubman than Frederick Douglass because “I work to make change and not be noticed, but watch out when I come into the light with my issue.”  Keep changing the world, Brenda! Her full remarks were as follows:

Good Afternoon,

Wow, what a tremendous honor.  I would like to thank the Maryland Democratic Party for this award and thank all of you that took the time to come out today to this first annual celebration of Black History Month.

As we gather here, on this last day of Black History Month, it is important that we reflect on our past and discuss how that past continues to impact the present.   It is fitting that this award is given in recognition of Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglas. They were fighting the same fight, a fight that continues to this day, a fight against injustice.  I too fight every day for equitable opportunities for the black and brown children of Montgomery County.

Yes, we have come a long way.  We have not arrived. But Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglas, have taught us perseverance through adversity.  They have also taught us that we cannot leave anyone behind. As a people, we have not learned that lesson. We will not be free until we are all seen as human and as individuals, regardless of our color, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or socioeconomic status.   We must advocate for those that are not able to do it for themselves.

I am so pleased that Dr. Cummings is focused on reaching those in our community who feel like they have been forgotten. We cannot get comfortable just because we have everything we need while many in our community don’t know where their next meal is coming from, don’t know where they will sleep tonight, don’t have medical care, are being unjustly accused of crimes because of the color or their skin, or are just being killed because of who they are.   As my parents used to say, but for the grace of God, that could be you or me. Every day demands that we commit ourselves to fighting inequities and dismantling institutional racism. The struggle is real and the struggle goes on.