I chose this woman because she was able to achieve her goals in a time of segregation.
Wilma Glodean Rudolph was born on June 23, 1940 to Ed and Blanche Rudolph. She was born in St. Bethlehem, Tenn. She was from a large family of 20 brothers and sisters. When she was born early and only weighed 4.5 pounds. At that time she was not allowed to go to the hospital. It was for whites only. There was only one black doctor in town. She was not expected to live. She was a sick child that had many childhood diseases. She had measles, mumps, chicken pox, scarlet fever and pneumonia. Little Wilma was taken to the doctor when her left leg and foot became weak and deformed. She was told she had polio. Polio was a crippling illness without a cure. The doctor told her family she would not walk again. The Rudolph family would not give up on Wilma. Mrs. Rudolph found out that Wilma could be treated at Meharry Hospital. This was a black medical college in Nashville, Tenn. Mrs. Rudolph and Wilma took this 50 mile bus trip twice a week for 2 years. The family could no longer afford the cost of Wilma's care. Her mother was taught how to do the exercises at home. The whole family helped with her daily exercises. She had to wear a brace on her leg for many years. Because she could not walk she had a tutor at home to teach her. She did not like this. She wanted to go to school like her brothers and sisters. She had home schooling until she was 8. By 8 years old she could walk with the brace and started going to school. This made her happy. She started to fit in with the other children. She was unable to run and play. She loved to watch the kids play basketball.
By 12 she was able to walk with out the brace. She started to play her favorite sport. Wilma loved basketball. Most young people did not complete high school. Many people dropped out to help take care of their families. Wilma kept a B average in school to play basketball and to run track.
