Brathwaite Burke, Yvonne

Metadata

Abstract

An oral history interview with Yvonne Brathwaite Burke, former member of Congress, former member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, former member of the Board of Regents of the University of California, and former member of the California State Assembly. This interview was conducted for the Women, Politics, and Activism Since Suffrage Project. Specifically, this interview discusses Burke’s childhood and schooling in Central Los Angeles; early messages about race; the positive role-modeling of her parents; college years at Berkeley, UCLA, and USC Law School; her involvement in the Civil Rights Movement (including a chilling memory about Dr. King); early days practicing law; Watts Riots and the McCone Commission; decision to run for State Assembly; her time in Sacramento, being one of three women, and serving with March Fong Eu; decision to run for Congress in 1972; contentions over the Vietnam War; the culture of women in Congress; being the first woman to have a child while serving in Congress; her priorities while serving in Congress; chairing the Black Caucus; mentions Bella Abzug; decision against congressional reelection instead to run for Attorney General of California (lost to George Deukmejian); appointment by Governor Brown to the Board of Regents; practicing law during intervening years; decision to run for Board of Supervisors and serving a subsequent sixteen-year term; the crisis of King/Drew Hospital; working with Gloria Molina; leadership style; differences between men and women; women’s roles in politics; and finally, proudest accomplishments.