The Power of Untold Stories: Five Generations of Fearless Women
Have you ever wondered what untold stories of courage might be hiding in your family tree? What if discovering just one ancestor's story could completely transform how you see yourself and what you believe is possible?
That's exactly what happened when Ms. Cathy Hughes, founder of Urban One and the first African American woman to head a publicly traded corporation, discovered the remarkable story of her great-great-grandmother, Charlotta Pyles. On this episode of Stories That Live In Us, Ms. Hughes shares how uncovering this hidden piece of her family history changed everything about how she viewed her own achievements and inspired her to create an even broader legacy.
From Hidden History to Living Legacy
"Had I known about Charlotta, I probably would have run for public office. I might have been president by now," Ms. Hughes tells us with a laugh that carries both joy and wistful recognition. "Because the women in my family – they just think it up and do it."
This mindset of fearless determination flows through five generations of women in Ms. Hughes's family, from Charlotta Pyles to Ms. Hughes herself. But for years, these stories remained untold, overshadowed by the achievements of the men in their lives. Even Ms. Hughes, while giving tours at Piney Woods Country Life School as a young girl, shared stories about her grandfather without knowing the incredible legacy of the women who made his success possible.
The Whole Story
If you haven’t already heard Ms Hughes’s powerful story, take a moment to listen:
Prefer audio only? Click here to listen on your favorite podcast app.
🎧 Listen to the full episode to discover a remarkable chain of feminine courage and determination:
- Charlotta Pyles, an enslaved woman who engineered her family's escape to freedom with help from Frances Gordon, the daughter of her enslaver
- Grace, Charlotta's granddaughter, who revolutionized fundraising at Piney Woods through music programs
- Helen Jones Hughes, a groundbreaking musician who faced and overcame racial discrimination
- Cathy Hughes herself, who slept on the floor of her radio station while building what would become Urban One
The Power of One Story
"I think that all of us, at a certain stage in our lives, go through a period of insecurity. But I had a lot of insecurities... because I had these dreams and goals that were being not only discouraged but actually characterized as something was wrong with me."
When building Urban One, Ms. Hughes faced seemingly insurmountable obstacles. She lost her house, had her car repossessed, and lived in her radio station, sleeping in a sleeping bag and washing up in the public bathroom in the middle of the night. Even her own mother, out of love and concern, begged her to give up the dream and take a secure government job instead.
"If I had known about Charlotta, I would have told them 'Oh, get out of the way, this train is coming through!' I know I may be the first, but I know I can get this done."
Your Story
Think about the women in your family tree. What untold stories of courage, determination, and resilience might be waiting to be discovered? How might knowing these stories change the way you approach your own dreams and challenges?
Story Seeds 🌱
Plant these conversation starters and watch your family stories grow.
- What stories have you heard about the strong women in our family's past? How did they overcome obstacles in their lives?
- Can you remember a time when someone told you your dreams were too big? How did you respond?
- What family traditions or values have been passed down through the women in our family?
- How do you hope future generations will remember the choices you're making today?
Story Sparks 🔑
Unlock your family's hidden stories with these research techniques.
- Search Newspapers.com for articles about women in your family tree. Look particularly for stories about their involvement in community organizations, churches, or social movements.
- Create a custom MyTreeTag in your Ancestry tree called "Breaking Barriers" to document instances where women in your family were the first to accomplish something or overcame significant obstacles.
- Add occupation facts to the profile pages of the women in your family tree. Don't forget to include unpaid work like community organizing or church leadership.
Ms. Hughes's story reminds us that knowing where we come from can profoundly impact where we believe we can go. Her great-great-grandmother's courage not only secured freedom for her family but created a legacy of fearlessness that continues to inspire new generations of women leaders through Ms. Hughes's mentorship.
Today, Ms. Hughes is ensuring this legacy lives on by mentoring young women who call her "Mama Number Two," sharing not just her story but her strength with the next generation.
"What I would like to do is to share the strength, the vision, the opportunity that was afforded me with other women, particularly women of color."
Ready to discover more stories of fearless women in your family tree? Subscribe to Stories That Live In Us wherever you get your podcasts. And if this episode touched your heart, please leave us a rating and review – it helps other family story seekers find us.
© 2024 Crista Cowan. All rights reserved.
