A press release from Office of Rep. Marilyn Strickland.
Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) released the following statement on the passing of Dr. Dolores Silas.
“Councilwoman Dr. Dolores Silas was a beloved mentor, trailblazer, and a strong voice for education, equity, and progress. We will miss her.
“Recognized by the City of Tacoma with a Lifetime Service Award in 2019, her service to our community went back decades. In addition to her work as President of the Tacoma NAACP, Dr. Silas became the first African-American woman to serve on the Tacoma City Council in 1991. Dr. Silas was a passionate educational advocate – after becoming one of the first Black teachers hired by Tacoma Public Schools, she went on to become the first Black administrator in the district.
“The fact that the overwhelming majority of Wilson High School students and community members wanted to honor her with the name change to Dr. Dolores Silas High School just a few weeks ago – while she was still with us – exemplifies the outsize impact she made in the lives of all who knew her.
“Dr. Dolores Silas’ accomplishments paved the way for many to follow in her footsteps, and her legacy will inspire the next generation of public servants and educators, especially young people, women, and people of color. I join our entire community in mourning her loss, and offer my deepest condolences to the entire Silas family during this difficult time. May she rest in peace.”
Boy I would love to see the statistics supporting this statement “The fact that the overwhelming majority of Wilson High School students and community members wanted to honor her with the name change…” and I would love to see it split along racial lines. Those asked may have supported it, but many were not asked.