After God made Paula Peebles, he broke the mold–talk about a one-of-a-kind original. That was Paula Peebles. I always knew she was loved and admired. However, in her passing, so many more voices have rung, sharing high praises for the labor and commitment that she has shown over the years.
On The Women’s Leadership radio program, Friday, January 26, host Joanna Bell, Chairwoman of the Women Leadership Council, planned a special on-air tribute to Paula Peebles, where over 10 of some of her close friends took time to celebrate her on the radio.
Karen Warrington, a very popular and well-respected broadcaster and journalist in Philadelphia, produced a series on Paula Peebles and her work at Scribe Video. Karen Warrington says when she learned of the transition of Paula Peebles, it was like a thunderclap. “The energy and passion she brought to our community was a ‘take no prisoners’ activist and leader over the years. So today, as we seek to honor her life and tell even just some of her stories, I hope we will vow to continue the struggles she championed with the same energy and commitment she brought forward.”
Joanna Bell stated, “I loved the hope she created as she did all the work she championed. And you know what? She went through her illness in almost the same fashion that she lived life. She still thought about others. She was in the fight and kept saying, I’m gonna get up here, and I’m gonna walk, and I’m gonna do all these things. Paula was (in my estimation) a sister warrior who always had the community at heart, very much so.
Karen Warrington added, “Most people referred to Paula Peebles as a housing activist. But she was also an astute businessperson and a fierce advocate for our people. She joined the Black Panther Party at a very young age, and I think some of that Panther ideology actually shaped her. I think some of the problems that remain in our community where she lived in North Philadelphia–I think a lot of them would’ve been overcome if some other leaders and politicians, dead or still alive, had not tried to stop her. However, because she was a fiery woman and she would stand up and tell the truth, whether it was popular or not, I think because of that some definitely tried to quiet her voice and success. Nonetheless, Paula still accomplished so much in her life. I think she could’ve even accomplished more, but there were people who definitely saw this woman coming and said we could not let her have the wins that she was working on in some instances. As much as she accomplished in her life, I’m sure she could have accomplished so much more. What I appreciated about her was that she did never ever let any haters deter her.”
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