Grace Paley by Diana Mara Henry

DMH Spotlight - Grace Paley and Maya Angelou and the Women's Pentagon Action

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Grace Paley (December 11, 1922 – August 22, 2007) was an American short story writer, poet and political activist, whose work won a number of awards. Paley wrote the "Unity Statement" for the action. Diana Mara Henry photographed her at the preliminary huddles for the Women's Pentagon Action, 1980.

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These puppets are by Amy Trompetter of

http://blackbirdtheater.org/about/

As John Bell of Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry writes:

"These puppets were built by Amy Trompetter for the Women's Pentagon Action in 1980.

In my article "Grace Paley's Political Arts" (Contemporary Women's Writing 3:2, December 2009, page 186)

I quote from Barbara Epstein's account of the action:

"As the women approached the Pentagon they were joined by drummers and by four women carrying large puppets in the form of women, each symbolizing a different stage of the demonstration: one was in black, for mourning; another figure in red, for rage; a third was yellow, for empowerment; and the fourth puppet, in white, symbolized defiance."

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A different story: Maya Angelou was ever so kind. Email us Now, here is a selection of ephemera DMH preserved from the event:

Photographs and documents may be used by request only. Please Email us for permission

Bella Abzug and Nancy Rudolph marching togther through Arlington National Cememtery to the Women's Pentagon Action, November 17, 1980

See more photographs of the Women's Pentagon Action on our website, here. Email us now! Go to DMH Home