Pinky Hughes grew up in a small Southern town in the 60’s. Life was hard for black families back then, especially for homes without fathers. Having no father in the home was pretty common in her neighborhood because fathers were either incarcerated or running from the law. Still black mothers kept the family together despite the hardships. During her grade school years she was sheltered from the worst of racism, because of segragation itself. When her school was desegragated in the late 60’s was when she began to understand the intent behind racism. She learned not all the hardships black people were going through were their fault, but a lot of it was because of the oppressive system they were being forced to live under. By the time she reached high school she began to fully understand racism. She understood fighting for Black people’s rights wasn’t going to be enough. She felt it was more important to fight for Human Rights, because she understood fighting for Human Rights leaves no one behind. She became outspoken challenging a system who despised voices like hers. She wrote articles in the local newspaper challenging a South that hadn’t moved far from its past of holding people in bondage.She was arrested many times in their effort to try to shut her up, but even that didn’t stop her. One thing she learned through it all, is the pen is mighter than the sword. This is her story.