Dorothy Lavinia Brown

"I tried to be...not hard, but durable."

"I was proud to be a role model, not because I have done so much, but to say to young people that it can be done."

"Brown's determination, beliefs, and values helped her to break through barriers in other aspects of her life too."

"She had been told, You’re a girl, you’re Black, you’re poor, and it just can’t be done. But she persevered, and she succeeded."

"Her background and training as a surgeon, I believe, made her a courageous champion for children, civil rights, and reproductive rights."

"Dr. Brown faced barriers because of her race and because of her gender. Yet she persisted and pursued her dreams as a surgeon, as a teacher, and as a legislator."