Women's History Month--Remembering Patsy Mink

Patsy Takemoto Mink became an attorney because--despite her high grades--she could not get admitted into medical school. A victim of World War II hatred of the Japanese, Mink experienced racism from an early age, but went on to become the first Japanese-American woman to practice law in Hawaii. In 1964, she became the first Asian-American woman elected to Congress. As a Congresswoman, the highly regarded Mink worked on behalf of women, children, immigrants, the environment, and the ideals of civil rights. She introduced the nation's first comprehensive Early Childhood Education Act.

However, above all things, it is for Title IX that Patsy Mink will be remembered. Because of her vision and tenacity, academic and athletic equity finally came to American schools.

Mink died in 2002. It is often said that the great Mia Hamm is the face of women's sports, and a fine face it is, but the template of women's sports and women's educational achivements as we know them now is the face of Patsy Mink. All Americans are in debt to her. And if you are a girl who plays sports or the parent of a girl who plays sports, you have Congresswoman Mink to thank.