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“Looking at it now, it feels almost surreal. It was something I never imagined, and it turned out to be amazing,” Soskin reflected in 2021.
Engaged with politics until the end
Even in her final days, Soskin remained actively involved in the world around her, particularly in politics. In a candid interview with The Guardian, she shared her thoughts on the current political landscape in the United States.
Soskin emphasized that she was far from apathetic. “I follow politics very closely,” she stated during a video call from her home in Richmond, where she lived with her daughter, Di’ara. Reflecting on the significant historical events she had experienced, she remarked, “Even during the 50s and 60s with civil rights, that was all [progress].”
However, she expressed concern that progress had stalled. “I don’t feel that’s the case now,” she noted. Discussing the Trump administration, Soskin was frank: “It seems to me that [Trump] has no clue what he’s doing. I believe we’ve lost our sense of direction.”
For someone who dedicated over a century to advocating for justice and truth, this uncertainty was profoundly unsettling. “And that’s frightening to me,” she said, “because I’m going to leave the world in such a state.”
Betty Reid Soskin passed away peacefully at her home in Richmond, California, at the age of 104, as confirmed by her family on Sunday.Family
A public memorial will be announced later. In lieu of flowers, her family has requested that donations be made to Betty Reid Soskin Middle School or to support the completion of her documentary film, Sign My Name to Freedom — a fitting title for a woman who dedicated her life to that very cause.
What an incredible life, what a remarkable legacy. Rest in peace, Betty Reid Soskin!People & Society