Opponent of Oppression: The Life and Times of Eleanor Roosevelt475 Words in Process Paper

Mahima KakaniJi Won LeeJacqueline ZhangSenior DivisionGroup Website

In considering the theme of leadership and legacy, we discovered Eleanor Roosevelt while studying the New Deal era. She was a powerful First Lady who had been the eyes and ears of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. But further research revealed that she was instrumental in reshaping the lives of Americans, and ultimately, the lives of people worldwide. We are all involved in our community and we aspire to be influential women, therefore, we were drawn to this passionate, accomplished woman. It is her legacy that not only inspires us, but has paved the way for us to accomplish our dreams. Eleanor Roosevelt lived through momentous changes in the world, and was a central player in these many crucial time periods as an influential First Lady, a diplomat on the world stage, a writer, and as a continuous leader for social justice. We came to know Eleanor through her various memoirs, political writings, and autobiographies which revealed details of her life, her views, and her character. We also had the opportunity to interview Robin Gerber, an Eleanor Roosevelt scholar. After reading her book, Leadership the Eleanor Roosevelt Way, we were interested in hearing more from the author as she provided a different perspective on Mrs. Roosevelts life. As we delved deeper, we contacted Jeffrey Urbin, head of Education Services at the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial Library whose depth of knowledge regarding the political partnership of Franklin and Eleanor helped us appreciate her influence on the FDR presidency and decisions that affected the nation. Initially, we were interested in her years as the First Lady, but we also transitioned into researching her social and political stances after being widowed. Due to much of Eleanors life being in the public view, we were able to access a plethora of photos, quotes, and newspapers to tell her story. We decided a website was the medium to capture the life and legacy of this extraordinary leader. We also used this medium to collaborate online so that we all had a constant connection to the information and our work in order to make additions and edits. The challenges Eleanor Roosevelt faced a miserable childhood, difficulties in her marriage, discrimination as a woman working in a mans world were met with resolve to rise above. Just as she transformed her own life circumstances, she helped to change the lives of Americans during the Great Depression and World War II. In the post-war era, Mrs. Roosevelt extended her work to the international stage as a delegate to the United Nations where her advocacy for the oppressed became international policy. The indomitable First Lady of the United States who revolutionized that role went on to revolutionize philosophy and assumptions about basic freedoms for all. Eleanor Roosevelt the First Lady of the World is a towering 20th century leader whose legacy shaped the 21st century.