Nearly a century separates their lives, but the power of the words of two African-American women from decidedly different backgrounds will live on for generations.
Summit County plays a key role in their lives.
One was born into slavery around 1797, the daughter of James and Betsey, in Ulster County, New York, the property of Colonel Johannes Hardenburgh. She was given the name Isabella. One was born in Akron, Ohio in 1952, the daughter of the first African-American research chemist who broke the race barrier in the tire industry in the 1950's. Her name was Rita Dove. Isabella grew up impoverished, illiterate and enslaved.