INTERVIEW BY SOPHIA WALKER
Photographed by Sophia Walker
RUTH ANN GAINES, IOWA HOUSE REPRESENATIVE DISTRICT 32
On her place of special meaning - For one thing, it is a natural setting that is really close to my house where I can immediately get to without a lot of struggle. I can regain my strength and my empowerment, and when I have lost it, it gives me comfort, solace, a place to reflect on who I have been, who I am, and who I want to be. It’s a great place.
“This is your house.”
On younger people in the movement - That’s a big one. I always believe in starting out educating people as young as possible. So, I try to bring grade school, middle school, high school kids to the capital to teach them that they have a place here. This is your house, and you need to be informed. You need to listen to people whom you don't agree with whom you don't like so that your mind will always have the information that you need to be who you are and to vote the way you want to vote. You don't have to follow my politics just be informed and be open-minded, and I think the younger that would start like that the more open-minded kids are. I guess let me tell you this story. I first became acquainted with politics and how important politics are in our lives when I was 13. In 1960, when Jack Kennedy ran for president, and I was educated in parochial schools, and so he was the first Catholic candidate. The nuns made us watch the debates. Made us. So, I saw every single solitary debate between Nixon and Kennedy. That kind of opened me to I better pay attention to this someday because I am going to be a voting citizen. I am going to want to know what issues are important to people like me and what candidates are going to support those issues that are important to people like me. And so, I tried to do that with younger people you know sometimes quietly like with the sisters for success I don't say a lot to them, but I bring a group up every session and have many legislators on both sides talk to them and have them watch a session. Just realize that it's an important part of your life even though it may have been overshadowed by other things in your educational path. Politics is extremely important, and you have a place here.
“If you have embattled discriminatorily remarks, slander whatever because of the color of your skin this is no different but with this time you are going to endure it for a cause.”