By Savannah Williams
Gladys Williams has been working with Modesto City Schools for 50 years. She has brought and continues to bring great value to our community in many ways. As a former President of the NAACP Modesto/Stanislaus, she actively initiates and supports opportunities that uplift the Black community and unifies all people.
She plays many roles, including the role of my grandmother. Funny story actually: she had walked into an event and began scanning the room. She was asked if she could be helped and she replied that she was looking for her son. He then asked her name and as soon as she said Williams he took her to her son. As he approached the table he said, “Jeremiah your mom is here.” You could imagine the look on both of their faces as they began to laugh. It was then that they met and she has been calling my pops her son ever since.
She has supported me through financial contributions towards my community endeavors and most importantly, she prays for me and leads with spiritual principles.
So today, it is with great privilege that I honor a Queen who deserves all the flowers – as she is still here planting seeds that brought/bring so much beauty to Modesto!
Savannah Williams: Looking back to when you first began your work in Modesto, what were the biggest challenges you faced as an African-American , and how did the community respond to your efforts?
Gladys Williams: As a young African-American woman, I felt very well received by the community and my job. Dick very quickly got Richard Patterson and myself involved in the city affairs. Reverend Taylor and Ray Prescott got me involved in the African-American community, such as the King Kennedy Board of Directors. As a young teacher I had lots of support from the parents and the students who were very well behaved.
I did, however, experience a challenge when I went to buy my first home. They did not want to sell to me because I was a Black, single female at the time. I went to Reverend Taylor and he moved the people to sell for me.
SW: What were some of the key moments or turning points in your journey of bringing change to the black community?
GW: In the 70’s, Mr. and Mrs. Johnson took their daughter to a play at Modesto High School and they could not believe that they used white people to represent Black people and painted their white faces black. Odessa Johnson went to file a complaint with the NAACP only to find we no longer had a branch here. At that point we began to meet in homes and started a Modesto/Stanislaus NAACP, branch 1048. That was an important turning point for our Black community. As a result, we have been able to address the civil and human rights issues of Stanislaus County.
SW: You’ve impacted so many lives in Modesto—what do you hope your lasting legacy will be, and how do you want to be remembered by future generations?
GW: It is so important that we as a community be united as one. I hope my legacy will continue to exist through “Not In Our Town”. This is a proactive approach, not a reactive approach, to hate speech and hate crimes. I also think I will leave a legacy in the school communities for standing up for the rights of scholars and their parents. Most of all I hope to be remembered as a civil rights leader and a fighter for human rights.
SW: In your view, what are the most important issues still facing Modesto today, and what steps do you think the community should take to continue moving forward?
GW: Institutional racism is the most important issue still facing us today in Modesto. We see and experience institutional racism in every aspect of our life. It is not only in the schools and workforce, but it is in all walks of our life. The only way to make change is to start talking about it. This has to be in small groups so that everyone is heard. But after we talk about it we then have to take action to change things.
SW: What advice would you give to young people today who want to make a difference in their communities, especially in a place like Modesto?
GW: To the young people of our community: the only way you will make change is to get involved. Don’t let older people tell you that you can’t lead. If you never lead, you will never learn to lead. You are our future and we need to support you in becoming our leaders. Be engaged in our community with the intent to make a difference. I am here to support and mentor you.
To get connected with the NAACP, please visit www.naacpmodestostanislaus.org/<www.naacpmodestostanislaus.org/>
