Introduction:
As a part of the Women of Color Feminism class I am enrolled in this semester at TCU, we were given the task to research a woman of color that attended TCU to document and reclaim the narrative of our university’s history. Through extensive research through the TCU school newspaper, the Fort Worth newspapers and other TCU archives, I have chosen to focus my research on Dionne Bagsby.
Who is Dionne Bagsby
Bagsby played a crucial role for people of color, specifically women of color, in Fort Worth. Born in Phoenix, Illinois in 1936, she experienced life right in the heat of pre and post-civil rights. She attended Illinois Wesleyan University for her undergraduate degree. Bagsby studied speech language pathology and received her certification from George Peabody College for Teachers. Brown v. Board of Education in 1954 called for the integration of schools. However, Texas Christian University started implementing integration in 1964 and the Fort Worth Independent School District (FWISD) began their integration process in 1963. Both TCU and FWISD were late to the party which brought Dionne into Fort Worth at a very critical moment of history.
In the 1960s (the specific date could not be found), Dionne moved to Fort Worth with her husband and children. Bagsby attended TCU to study for her Master’s degree during her first few years in Fort Worth. Bagsby went on from her time at TCU and worked in the FWISD as a speech language pathologist. She was noted to be a pioneer educator who helped with peaceful integration to the public schools and was said to be ‘called on to provide much training and mediation.’ Through her extensive work in the school system, she was highly favored by many members of her community. She served as the first woman and first minority elected as a member of the Tarrant County Commissioners court. Her responsibilities as a member of the worked included creating institutional change by initiating new programs that encouraged the inclusion of women and minorities. The representation she provided gave a voice to both women and people of color. The initiatives she was most passionate on during her time as a commissioner was establishing county wide immunization programs, quality healthcare for all women, and granted money to several women’s shelters across Fort Worth.
The Articles:
Unfortunately, even with extensive research, I was unable to find much information on Bagsby on her time at TCU through looking through the skiff in the 1960s However, I found Bagsby through two articles in the skiff that was written on her in 1989. Specifically, there were two articles examining her relationships and impacts she had on the students of TCU during this time period. An article in the Skiff in 1989 released an article announcing Bagsby’s meeting with Kappa Alpha Psi. Students interviewed said that they were expecting Bagsby to talk about the importance of having ‘black role models’ in society as well as talking about her experience as being a woman of color in government official positions. Secondly, in Fort Worth in 1989, there was a “march against fear.” Bagsby was a key individual that encouraged and educated TCU students to take a stand and protest against the societal norms around them. The fight against violence was not representative the passions of racial and gender equality that Bagsby had, but displays the way Bagsby participated in raising up leaders towards social change.
Connection: Dionne Bagsby and women of color feminisms
Bagsby represents the double bind that many women of color experience throughout their lifetime. Not only was she having to serve as representation of females throughout her time as a professional and member of the commissioners court, she had to represent herself as black as well. This double bind, explained by bell hooks, shows the many oppressions that one can face, race, gender, sexuality, class, ability, etc. When one takes up space in many different places of oppression, there are intersecting cruelties that also occur. Bagsby was not foreign to the intersections of her own oppressions as a black female, however, she was a pioneer of speaking out for equality and access of services for all individuals.
Reflection: relevance today
Sadly, Bagsby passed away in January 2019. Her life has been remembered throughout many Fort Worth Newspapers and was mourned and celebrated by hundreds of family members, friends, neighbors, and members of the Fort Worth community. There is no doubt that she disrupted the systems of oppressions in place in Fort Worth and TCU. She was described as “a treasured community leader who advocacy has opened doors for women, children and minorities.”
Bagsby was often quoted saying, "Don't worry about who gets or takes credit for a service, just get the service needed to those who are in need. Good always comes back to you if you don't seek it and often comes when it is least expected." She lived a life of service and has been quoted sharing her mantra being Luke 12:48 “from everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required.” The life she chose to live causes me to wonder what life would be like if every single individual lived by the same mantra. If we lived a life not for credit, but in selflessness to better every single persons experience. What if people who do have privilege actually gave their lives for others. Bagsby who had systems against her still gave her life to better the lives of others. I think we can too.
Links:
https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/dfw/obituary.aspx?n=dionne-phillips-bagsby&pid=191247193&fhid=2846