Despite what we're often taught in school, injustice isn't corrected only by the actions of charismatic leaders, elected officials, or military might. Those folks are responding to demands made by ordinary people.
Lilly Ledbetter is one of those ordinary people. She worked here in Alabama as a Goodyear tire plant supervisor and discovered just before retirement that she'd been payed less than her male colleagues. Arguing gender discrimination, she sued and a jury agreed. Yay, right?
Unfortunately, no. W's guys on the Supreme Court overturned the lower court decision, saying she should've filed suit within 180 days of getting her first paycheck. Who the hell knows what their coworkers make in the first 6 months on the job or ever?
Congress recognized this absurdity and passed a bill that President Obama will be signing into law today - the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act.
Change happens because ordinary people stand up - sometimes alone, sometimes with their neighbors - and say enough already. In today's New York Times column, Gail Collins shares the stories of several women who changed the working world by standing up for themselves and other women.
Miss Lilly, you make me proud of my home state, exemplifying the best that can come of my people's history of dogged perseverance. I wish I could hug your neck.
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The American Prospect Talks with Lilly Ledbetter
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