The Washington Informer: Regional

Wilhelmina Jackson Rolark:
A Renaissance Woman
By Janette Hoston Harris, Ph.D.

City Historian for Washington
Special to the Informer

When I think of Wilhelmina Rolark, I think of the book, “Walking with the Wind” by Congressman John Lewis, for truly she moved in a way that affected change – a Biblical Moses, who dedicated herself to bringing the people of Ward 8 over troubled waters and out of their present, sometimes desperate environment, to higher ground with jobs and improved education.

Wilhelmina, as she was affectionately known, was an example of the motto, “Each one teach one” and she always moved ahead on her beliefs, even if she was alone. more

Photos By Roy Lewis
Rev. Dr. Joseph Lowery, co-founder and President emeritus of SCLC preaches the Eulogy of Mrs. Rolark.

By Shantella Sherman
WI Contributing Writer

Nearly 500 mourners and more than 20 speakers gathered Saturday at Howard University Law School’s Dumbarton Chapel to pay their last respects to Wilhelmina Jackson Rolark, an attorney, civil rights activist, city council woman and publisher of a weekly Black newspaper. Having lived a life that not-so-quietly demanded adherence to Christian values such as justice and fairness, what could have very well been marked by solemnity became an occasion of celebration, re-acquaintance and renewal.

Wilhelmina Helped Pave the Way: Friends and Neighbors Remember
a Firebrand
By Mary Wells
WI Staff Writer

Wilhelmina Jackson Rolark was fighting the fight for equality for her people long before the 60’s, before the water hoses and the dogs, before the lunch counter sit-ins and bus rides. One could say that Wilhelmina was paving the way for the Rosa Parks and Correta Scott Kings to make that final ‘heave ho’ to push for what was rightfully theirs, what was promised to them by the Constitution. She showed them that although the government kept “bouncing the checks of equality,” they had a right to keep writing the checks.

Starting in the 30’s when she earned her Bachelors and Masters of Arts degrees in political science at Howard University, Wilhelmina was no ‘shrinking violet.’ As a young researcher in the 30’s, she was working with the Swedish social scientist Gunnar Myrdal as he explored racism in America. Before she met Calvin W. Rolark, who would become her husband, Wilhelmina was traveling in the South, documenting the wretchedness and oppression of African Americans in dangerous Jim Crow territory. In the 40’s she was working on civil rights cases when Martin Luther King was still in school.

Special Tribute
By Rev. Sandra Butler-Truesdale

Special to the Informer

The movement has lost four heavy hitters in the past six months: C. Deloris Tucker, Rosa Parks, Coretta Scott King and Wilhelmina Jackson Rolark. These four women played a positive part in my life, along with my mother, Emma Butler-Dorsey who died just two years ago. Whenever I think of these women I think of wisdom, knowledge, understanding and strength. I remember how watching them gave me the strength to take on a challenge and see it through to resolve.

I used to often tell people that Wilhelmina Jackson Rolark knew me before I was born. I guess you ask the question: How can that be? Well let me get down to business and tell you the story. Wilhelmina and my father, Tansil Butler, attended and graduated from Howard University together. They were friends while students and continued to be friends throughout his life.