Welcome to our 9th #womanoftheweek! Today we will discussing Jean King, a Hawaiian lawmaker and activist.
Major Accomplishments:
- First woman of color Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii
- Campaigned for environmental issues and affordable housing
The Hawaiian Scholar
Jean King was the sixth Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii and born on December 6th, 1925. King was valedictorian of her high school, and attended the University of Hawaii. King also obtained her master’s degree in fine arts for theatre and drama. Though she focused on art in college, she was always involved and interested in activism. One of her major projects in college was a play about Japanese anti-war.
A Lawmaker by Day, A Hero by Night
King served in the Hawaii House of Representatives and the Hawaii Senate campaigning for environmental protection. Her milestones include sponsoring a bottle bill which would encourage recycling. She also supported the Hawaii Sunshine Law that allowed careful review of actions by government officials by the public. Her support for environmentally positive actions and the openness to scrutiny was praised by political activists and the public. A few years later, she served as Lieutenant Governor becoming the first woman of color to do so in Hawaii. Her goal was to make Asian women more noticeable in society. King also frequently spoke out about homelessness and affordable housing.
The OG Asian Superwoman
After King retired from politics, she continued to be a social activist making strides for Asian women all over the globe. Her political activism inspired many women to pursue a career in politics such as Colleen Hanabusaa, a U.S. representative from Hawaii. As she switched to community activism, she focused on helping out homeless people by trying to fund their homes. King passed away due to pancreatic cancer at the age of 87. Governor Neil Abercrombie called her “a true pioneer” as she was an inspiration to several future politicians and activists.
What's your favorite part about Jean King's inspiring life? Comment below!
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