“I learned a lot these past couple of months, being on the naming committee and doing the project in general,” said Anaya Zenad, a former student who helped lead the renaming effort.
California Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, who attended the renaming ceremony, grew emotional as he spoke about Soskin’s impact.
“We have someone who has fought for civil rights, for women’s rights, for racial justice, and our children deserve to have someone to look up to,” he said at the ceremony.
Her personal resilience was as remarkable as her professional achievements. In 2016, at the age of 94, she survived a violent home invasion, during which she was assaulted and robbed. Despite the trauma, Soskin returned to work weeks later, demonstrating her unyielding strength and dedication to her mission.
Soskin’s life and work were chronicled in her memoir, Sign My Name to Freedom, which inspired both a stage play and a documentary.
The documentary, Sign My Name to Freedom: The Lost Music of Betty Reid Soskin, directed by Bryan Gibel, explores her life through the lens of her music, activism, and reflections on systemic racism.
“Betty’s life story is a testament to the resilience and strength of those who face systemic challenges yet refuse to be defined by them,” Gibel said.
The film captures intimate moments from her life, including her rediscovery of old recordings and her performance at Oakland’s Paramount Theatre with the Oakland Symphony and a 200-person choir.
Soskin’s dedication to justice and education was evident in her involvement with the civil rights movement and her work for former state Assemblymembers Dion Aroner and Loni Hancock. She fought for fair housing and educational opportunities for marginalized communities, emphasizing the need for systemic change in policies that disproportionately affected Black and low-income families.
Her tireless advocacy and presence at legislative meetings ensured that equity remained a focus in California politics.
Even after retiring at age 100, Soskin continued to inspire through public appearances and reflections on her life, a powerful reminder of the importance of storytelling and preserving the full scope of history.
Betty Reid Soskin: A Life of Advocacy and Storytelling
- 1921 : Born Betty Charbonnet in Detroit, Michigan.
- 1927: Survives the Great Mississippi Flood, prompting her family’s move to Oakland, California.
- 1942: Works for the U.S. Air Force as a file clerk but resigns after discovering she was hired under the assumption that she was white.
- 1945: Co-founds Reid’s Records in Berkeley with her first husband, Mel Reid, making it one of the first Black-owned record stores in the Bay Area. The store remains a community hub for nearly 75 years.
- 1960s-1970s: Becomes active in the civil rights movement and fights for fair housing and educational opportunities.
- 1995: Named California Woman of the Year for her contributions to advocacy and community empowerment.
- 2000: Plays a key role in planning the Rosie the Riveter/WWII Home Front National Historical Park in Richmond, ensuring the inclusion of Black workers’ experiences in its historical narrative.
- 2004: Begins working with the National Park Service as a temporary interpretive ranger at the age of 84.
- 2011: Becomes a permanent National Park Service ranger at the age of 89.
- 2015: Lights the National Christmas Tree at the White House and receives a presidential coin from President Barack Obama.
- 2016: Survives a violent home invasion at 94 but returns to work just weeks later.
- 2018: Performs at Oakland’s Paramount Theatre with the Oakland Symphony and a 200-person choir, showcasing her musical activism.
- 2019: Her memoir, Sign My Name to Freedom, is published, chronicling her life and advocacy.
- 2021: Documentary Sign My Name to Freedom: The Lost Music of Betty Reid Soskin begins production.
- 2022: Retires at age 100 from the National Park Service. On the same day, the West Contra Costa Unified School District renamed Juan Crespi Middle School in El Sobrante as Betty Reid Soskin Middle School.
