Being A Woman

 

This is Black History month and I want to write about this woman because one, she's a woman, and whatever color we are, we all have had to deal with womanly issues. Warning to the squeamish: I'm going to write about woman things, like what it's like to deal with the monthlies. Fortunately, I no longer get the visit, but when I did, it was a terrible experience. Back in the day we didn't have stick on period pads. You needed a device to hold that pad in place. And then you needed another device to hook up your nylons, and over that you wore a girdle along with the brassiere. Eight to ten hour days were miserable. It's why woman can tolerate pain better than a male. 

Mary Beatrice Davidson Kenner tried to make life a little easier for women by inventing a sturdier form of the sanitary belt- one that was more comfortable, if that was possible, and one that stayed in place. I won't post an image of the invention because it looks like a Rube Goldberg idea, but just so ya know, that was meant to be better than what was being used. She came up with the idea and prototype in the early 50's. A company was very much interested in buying the rights to make the product until they discovered Mary was black. Eventually her patent ran out and businesses were allowed to "use" it. Mary never made a dime. After reading Wikipedia about her life, I was trying to imagine what life was like for Mary and her family. They were all inventors who had things happening at all times. It reminds me of an old movie where a family of eccentrics live in bliss while doing what makes them happy. Of course having ones invention stolen wouldn't make for a happy story. Racism was a thoroughly acceptable behavior back in the day. It's still quite prevalent as we have seen after the fabulous halftime show featuring Bad Bunny and a myriad of beautiful people dancing, singing and trying to be positive in the surroundings of some of the most vile garbage- and I'm talking people refuse. You know who they are. 

I can't even begin to put my feet into Mary's shoes. I can only assume how very unfair and cruel people were to them, but they carried on. They did not give up or give in. They knew they were just as worthy and deserved a decent life. I still have no clue how hate and intolerance is still a part of humanity. We will never be able to change the minds of people like the orange man and his minions, but to allow them any part of a leadership position is beyond the pale. It shouldn't be allowed. Trump's ascendancy was because we have a real problem in this country. It was always there. As a white person living amongst the middle class American dreamers, I knew very well that it was there, always. They just needed a leader like Trump to give them consent to openly hate.

Over 100 million people watched Bad Bunny perform. Even the Mar-A-Lago telly was set to the halftime show. I'm not sure what they were thinking but we can guess. While most people watching were touched deeply by the message these clowns seethed.

As another African American woman once said,  "When they go low, we go high."* The halftime program was one of class and dignity and I think reflect who most of us are. 

Mary Beatrice Davidson Kenner lived to be 93. She was beautiful, clever, creative and didn't let negativity stop her. She deserves to be mentioned.

*Michelle Obama