Johnnie Tillmon: “Welfare is a Women’s issue”

Johnnie Tillmon (left)
April 10, 1926-November 22, 1995
Photo source: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnnie_Tillmon

Johnnie Tillmon defined herself as a black, fat, poor woman on welfare. Her work specialized in Welfare Rights. She was originally born in Scott, Arkansas in 1926. As an adult, she moved to California in 1959.

In 1963, Tillmon was diagnosed with an illness. The weren’t any specific records about Tillmon’s illness. The essential thing to understand is this diagnosis prompted her need for welfare assistance. Upon pursuing support, she experienced the mistreatment of those seeking welfare.

She used her position and experience as a worker organizer and community association member for housing projects to found the first welfare mothers’ association called ‘Aid to Needy Children’ (ANC).

ANC eventually joined forces with the National Welfare Rights Organization which is how Tillmon eventually stepped into the role of Executive Director.

Tillmon sought to expand the feminist movement by connecting economic oppression with gender oppression. In her essay, she stated that 99% of welfare families are headed by women. Her essay connects gender wage gap with causing poverty. This still reigns true today. Gender wap gap is not merely ‘woman don’t make the same amount as men for the same work’, it’s also ‘women are not paid for work in industries dominated by women’.

The complete essay has been provided below.