Patsy Takemoto Mink, First Asian-American Woman Elected to Congress

Patsy Matsu Takemoto Mink was born in Hawaii in 1927 to second generation Japanese American parents. Her father worked as a civil engineer in Maui.

Mink started her political career in high school when she won the election for student body president. Her campaign was fraught with challenges she managed to overcome. Just before the election, Honolulu was attacked by Japan, leaving the student body wary of anything and anyone Japanese-oriented. She was also the only female who had ever run for a student office.

She graduated from high school as class valedictorian. She furthered her education at the University of Hawaii in Honolulu, then on to the University of Nebraska.

The University of Nebraska had strict segregation policies, forcing students of color to live in separate dormitories from white students. Mink formed a coalition of students, parents, administrators, employees and even businesses and corporations to successfully lobby to end those segregation policies.

Her political career was off to a roaring start.

From Nebraska, Mink attended the University of Chicago Law School and obtained her juris doctor degree in 1951. Ironically, that same year, Sandra Day O'Connor, who would be the first woman to serve on the Supreme Court, could not get a job as a lawyer because of her gender.[1]

She also met and married John Mink, a hydrologist, while attending the University of Chicago Law School.

The newlyweds settled in Honolulu and Mink began practicing law. Mink had a daughter, Gwendolyn, who became an author and educator on labor and women's issues.

In 1956, three years prior to Hawaii becoming a state in the union, Mink was elected to represent her district in the House of Representatives.

Mink became the first woman minority in Congress in 1965 and ended up serving five consecutive terms. Drawing on her previous experience, Mink built coalitions in Congress, the most instrumental being the Title IX Amendment of Higher Education Act. This Act prohibited gender discrimination by federally funded institutions. This Act was renamed the Patsy T. Mink Equal Opportunity Act in 2002 by President George W. Bush.

Mink was involved in other landmark laws such as the Early Childhood Education Act and the Women's Educational Equality Act. Both laws greatly advanced equal rights in America, particularly at that time.

Mink was elected as Secretary of the House Democratic Caucus in 1975.

In 1976, Mink set her sights on the United States Senate but lost the primary election for the seat to Spark Matsunaga. Far from having a political career be over, Mink was selected by President Jimmy Carter to be Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs.

Once her service in the Carter Administration was over, Mink returned to Honolulu where she was elected to the Honolulu City Council. She was eventually elected Chairwoman.

Mink returned to serve in Congress in 1990. She served in Congress until August 2002 when she became ill and was hospitalized with complications from chickenpox. One month later, Mink died from viral pneumonia at the age of 74.

Due to timing, her name was not removed from the primary ballot and Mink was posthumously elected to Congress. After a special election, Ed Case filled her seat.

That Patsy Mink Foundation was established in her honor. The Patsy Takemoto Mink Foundation offers educational support to assist low-income women with children who are pursuing education or training.[2]

Sources:

[1] The Honolulu Advertiser
[2] Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Foundation