Gore's daughter speaks about female activists

By Allison Sundaram

Students can learn from social justice activists of the past to help create a better future, author Karenna Gore Schiff said Thursday in Mayer Theatre.

Schiff, the daughter of former Vice President Al Gore, spoke in support of her new book, "Lighting the Way," a historical novel that biographies nine little- known American female activists. The event was co-sponsored by Santa Clara and the Commonwealth Club of Silicon Valley.

Schiff emphasized the message of activism and social justice embodied by the different women represented in her book. The nine women in her book, arranged chronologically, are Ida B. Wells-Barnett, Mother Jones, Alice Hamilton, Frances Perkins, Virginia Durr, Septima Clark, Dolores Huerta, Helen Rodrigues-Trias and Gretchen Buchenholz.

The social justice message is made prevalent by the women Schiff profiled. "I think that all these stories are about individuals who stood up for those who were powerless and vulnerable," she said. "And also in doing so, treated them with respect; there is no hypocrisy or condescension about the work of any of these women."

Schiff chose a varied range of activists, ranging from anti-segregationists such as Wells, Clark and Durr, to labor organizers like Mother Jones and children's advocates like Buchenholz.

She also felt that there is an important message implicit within the book's characters, which students can take away from their reading.

"I think about myself that when I'm sitting with my grandchildren and great grandchildren, I want to be able to tell stories about having been an active participant in my time," she said. "We are masters of our own fate in this country, which is a wonderful thing and which really is the essence of politics and of social justice in a way. To abdicate that responsibility is to live a less interesting life."

Tipper Gore, Schiff's mother, and wife of former Vice President Gore, was in attendance to support her daughter.

"I find her passion for these women to be inspiring, and I appreciate the fact that she told their stories so well, because I learned about a few of them that I hadn't really known about," Gore said. "I think it's really a service to history."

For Schiff, researching and writing the book was a success in helping her to regain some of the faith she lost in politics following the controversial 2000 election and her father's loss.

"This book has really been therapeutic for me, I think, because I do believe that even when it seems as if challenges are insurmountable, even at a time when I disagree with the decisions of those in power. There are opportunities to make change."

The new book and ensuing return to the public eye have led some to speculate whether Schiff will enter the political arena. While remaining non-committal about the possibility of running for office, Schiff affirmed a commitment to political engagement.

"I definitely feel that that's an important thing to do as a citizen, to look for which candidates are supporting or championing the issues that you care about, and supporting them," Schiff said. "I think that's a crucial thing to do, and I will do that in 2006 and 2008, I plan on it."

Schiff is currently a volunteer with the New York gubernatorial race of Democrat Elliot Spitzer.

Contact Allison Sundaram at (408) 554-4546 or asundaram@scu.edu.