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SPEAKER_04: Hello, from Wonder Media Network, I'm Jenny Kaplan,
SPEAKER_02: and this is Womanica. This month we're talking about folk heroes, women whose lives and stories took on mythic proportions. Today we're talking about a woman who put conviction over convention. Time and time again, she put others before herself in order to do what was right. Let's talk about the unsinkable Molly Brown. Margaret Tobin was born on July 18th, 1867 in Hannibal, Missouri. Her parents, John and Joanna, were Irish Catholic immigrants who raised their children with the values of hard work and equality. By the time Margaret was 13 years old, the value of hard work overpowered her academic interests. She left school to work at a tobacco company. Days were long, working conditions were harsh, and wages were low. Like many in her community, Margaret dreamed of traveling West for bigger and better opportunities. After five years of stripping tobacco leaves, Margaret got her chance. One of her brothers decided to try his luck in the mining industry in Colorado. Margaret eagerly joined him. Soon, Margaret had set up a new life in Leadville, Colorado. She got a job at a local department store and began volunteering at soup kitchens and other charitable organizations. Then, in the summer of 1886, Margaret met the man she would marry, James Joseph, JJ, Brown. Margaret had dreamed of marrying a rich man, and JJ was nothing of the sort. He was a self-educated mining engineer, the child of Irish immigrants just like Margaret. Margaret was torn. She'd always promised herself she would find a man who could provide for their family, but she loved JJ and loved one out over money. The two had a whirlwind summer romance and were married by September 1st, 1886. They then had two children, Lawrence and Catherine. The young family lived a relatively quiet life until they literally struck gold. In 1893, the silver industry crashed and silver prices plummeted. At the same time, JJ discovered gold in the mine owned by a company he'd invested in. JJ and Margaret became millionaires. They bought a mansion in Denver and relocated the family. In Denver, Margaret made it a goal to join the local high society, but she wasn't accepted with open arms. Her money was considered new money. Nevertheless, her energy and generosity made her one of the most sought after fundraisers. In this new role, Margaret began taking up different social causes. She was an avid supporter of women's rights, miners rights, and children's rights, but her activism caused tension with her husband. In 1909, the couple separated. The split was amicable, and JJ gave Margaret the house and a monthly stipend. In 1912, with this newfound freedom, Margaret decided to travel the world. She traveled throughout Egypt and Italy. She was in France when she learned that her grandson was sick. She immediately booked a ticket for the next ship to New York, the RMS Titanic. On the night of April 14th, 1912, the Titanic was traveling through dangerously icy waters when it hit an iceberg. Margaret's memory of that moment is as follows. I stretched on the brass bed, at the side of which was a lamp. So completely absorbed in my reading, I gave little thought to the crash that struck at my window overhead and threw me to the floor. Being jostled out of bed didn't alarm Margaret, but the chaos outside her door did. She went out to see the hallway flooded with panic and confusion. In an act of selflessness, Margaret immediately began helping others board lifeboats. The ship had ordered women and children to be the first off, but Margaret wanted to make herself useful. She said, the less you think of yourself at such times, the better off you are. In the end, Margaret had to be physically forced off the ship and into a lifeboat, and her usefulness didn't stop there. Once on the lifeboat, Margaret continued to be a bright light in this dark event. The lifeboat leader was an emotional wreck. When he refused to go back to help the others, Margaret apparently threatened to throw him overboard. When he was hesitant about letting the women row the boat, Margaret insisted. Rowing was the only way they could keep warm. And when he bemoaned their chances of survival, Margaret replied, keep it to yourself if you feel that way. For the sake of these women and children, be a man. You have a smooth sea and a fighting chance. Margaret was right, they did have a fighting chance. After several hours at sea, they were rescued by the RMS Carpathia. On board, Margaret continued her acts of service. She played the role of translator for those who didn't speak English, and she helped distribute supplies among the survivors. Through these interactions, Margaret realized that many of the poorer passengers were returning home with nothing. They'd lost family members, money, and important family heirlooms. So Margaret tapped back into her fundraising days and encouraged the first-class survivors to donate money. When they reached New York City, Margaret had raised $10,000. Margaret was relatively unfazed by the whole event. When she was asked about her survival, she allegedly replied, typical Brown luck, we're unsinkable. And that is how she became known as the unsinkable Molly Brown. Margaret's story doesn't end there, though. After the Titanic, she was somewhat of a hero. Her newfound fame gave her the platform to speak out on issues she cared about. In 1914, she spoke out against the Colorado Fuel and Iron Company, which was mistreating its workers. She eventually convinced the company's owner, John D. Rockefeller, to improve working conditions and wages for miners. Margaret spent much of the summer of 1914 in Newport, Rhode Island. There, she became friends with influential women like Alva Vanderbilt Belmont and Alice Paul. She got involved in the National Women's Trade Union League, and she helped organize the Conference of Great Women, where she spoke about workers' rights. All of this culminated in her running for US Senate, six years before women won the right to vote. Margaret's political career was cut short by World War I. She dropped out of the race to run a war relief station in France. She was later awarded the Legion of Honor for her service. Afterwards, as a cultural renaissance got underway, Margaret joined the movement. In the 1920s and 30s, she worked as an actress. Margaret lived a full life until October 26, 1932. At 65 years old, Margaret Brown died of a brain tumor. As fascinating as her real life was, Margaret's story was mythologized and embellished after her death. Even her obituary contained falsehoods, saying she was illiterate and once saved by Mark Twain. Even the name Molly is a product of these myths. Margaret never went by Molly while she was alive. But when reporters and writers got hold of her story, they changed her name and made her into a gun-toting saloon girl. The tall tales inspired movies, radio dramas, and a stage play, which enchanted audiences. The All month we're talking about folk heroes. For more information, find us on Facebook and Instagram at Wamanica Podcast. Special thanks to Liz Kaplan, my favorite sister and co-creator. Talk to you tomorrow.
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SPEAKER_04: In 1995, Detective Tony Richardson was trying to figure out who killed a fellow officer. The case comes down to who is believed and who is ignored.
SPEAKER_03: Oh my goodness. We did convict an innocent man.
SPEAKER_04: I'm Beth Shelburne from Lava for Good Podcasts. This is Ear Witness. Listen to Ear Witness on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
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