Teresa Carter

I'm going to do a project at what Jim had me, we're going to, you're going to have a large seat or, because his seat is not really what we're going to have at large, I'm going to make it happen for you. I love God for that, because like I said, Teresa, you have sewn into so many lives. I can't recall one time that I haven't called you and you haven't come through to me. And I mean, it's been a professional, you know, level. So I mean, your family and friends and your daughter and everybody else, and your, your husband too. I mean, it's your turn to reap. Get ready. Yeah. I'm not your turn to reap. And they may be trying to tell me that I've sewn some bad seats, that's what all these things are doing. And I said, you know, we all have, I said, but I know that I know that I've sewn in good soil. Yeah. And I know that my harvest is here, and it's like he showed me the dream of the storm. He gave me another dream about three weeks ago, I was in the house, this is awesome,

I'm telling you this, and I'm going to keep going on. So interesting. I'm going to talk to you about today is Mary Dean, I'm trying to figure out how, huh? I called her, she called me back, we still are playing phone tags, so I need to find out more. And I know as it relates to what, you maybe can talk to me a little bit about Saturday because, um, Raytheon, I know they have their issues, but since this is a Boeing story, I guess I need you to speak, can you speak it all to what happened, not necessarily what happened at Boeing, but what took place Saturday and, uh, why she had you come and speak and that kind of thing. Do you know much about them? Let me get closer. Okay. First of all, let me ask you to give me your full name. Teresa Carter, okay, is that Teresa Johnson Carter? Well, I use both Teresa Johnson Carter. I find that a lot of people still don't recognize my, my married name Carter, so Teresa Johnson Carter.

Okay. And Teresa, I know, uh, how long have you known Mary Dean, do you know her personally? I've known her for several years, uh, I would say, oh, maybe seven, eight, maybe longer than that. Uh, just seen her in the community and, and on that she's been a person that has values and some convictions and, and likes to do what is right to help people. Okay. Okay. Did you know Mary, when she went through her first, uh, suit with Boeing at all, yes, yes, I knew her then and, uh, I don't know her, uh, personal personal, but just seen her in the community and on that she, uh, is a activist and that she's very frank and, and just as a believes in doing what is right for the people. Well, now, last Saturday, what happened? There was some kind of a rally? Yes, it was a rally, uh, to bring women together is involving a lawsuit against Boeing aircraft

in relation to women being discriminated through promotions and or wages. You have worked in aircraft in the past, do you, uh, think that this is a valid lawsuit? I believe there's a possibility of being, uh, valid. If you look at your statistics, uh, in my speech on Serity, I had some data that goes back to 1992 that clearly shows that women are paid on the average 57 cents less than what a man is paid for the same job. And I'm sure those figures haven't changed too much. What about black women? Black women, uh, the pay, uh, ratio is even lower. Hmm. Would you say that you experienced that yourself and your job or no? I believe I have experienced, uh, uh, the promotion and or wages, uh, on my previous job because right now I am one of those laid off, uh, employees, um, it's, it, it is a problem and, uh, I believe

it needs to be addressed. So what else did you talk about at the rally? Well, there were several speakers, um, uh, we had, uh, the legislators, lady from the legislature, I'm sorry, I cannot read, was it Gwen, Gwen, Gwen, Gwen, but I talked about why women should unite, um, when I say all women, I'm talking about all women and because there is a division, uh, among women. And I believe that the media plays a part, part in a role in this, in this division. And I believe that all women, whether you're Caucasian, African American, uh, the team know, Jewish, whatever, that we all have things in common and that we should be able to agree to disagree, but to unite and address the issues that have an effect on all of us as a whole.

When you said the media has a role in that, what do you mean? Well, as an example, the example I use is that, uh, if you're not, uh, white, tall and a size two, you're pretty much ignored. And what women do not realize is that one, this excludes women of color and two, it excludes most white women. You know, that's really interesting because there is problems with equality and play, uh, pay rather, and the high idea of discrimination, um, did you get a sense at the rally that a lot of women weren't agreement about that? I got a sense that, uh, yes, uh, they're in agreement, however, also sense that, that there's also that fair factor of what will happen if I speak up, what will happen to me if I decide to join this, this fight, you know, retaliation. And not everyone has the ability to take that stand. But what women need to realize that if once you are united, you have a much greater chance

of succeeding because a house that is divided is destined to fall, it will fall. And I commend Mary Dean for taking on this, uh, this fight to be a spokesman. I know it's not been easy for her, uh, just from my own personal experience and, and the, uh, things that I've tried to change or I've spoken out and been up front, they're, you know, you will have some retaliation. So, uh, do you happen to know how she talked to you about what the next step is or what have you? No, I'm not involved, um, uh, in that faction of, uh, this lawsuit because, you know, one, I don't work for Boeing and, um, they're not in liberty to go into a lot of details. In fact, when she sent me the letter inviting me to be a speaker, she was thinking I was still a school board member and I quickly, um, called her and said, no, I'm a former

school board member, but nevertheless, she wanted me to speak. And in this letter, she stated that if I wanted more details about the attorney, I would, excuse me about the lawsuit, I would need to call their attorneys, which I have no need or desire to go to that extent. I just wanted to be there to support her to get women together for women to see that there is a need to unite. And, uh, apparently there must be, uh, some validity to this charge because attorneys just don't take on lawsuits unless there's, uh, a great opportunity to win them, especially if it's a class action lawsuit. Anything else that you would add in terms of thinking about women and equal pay and discrimination? Well, I believe that women, um, as I said earlier, must unite. I believe that women need to take a look at themselves and see what they need to do to

increase, uh, their, uh, ability to be promoted if you need to go back to school and also challenge to my speech that if you are a woman that's in a, uh, supervisory role, uh, I ask the question, how do you treat other women? Uh, do you show them respect? Do you lobby for them? Do you mentor them because that is something that must take place, uh, in the workplace to get a promotion, men, mentor men, they lobby. That's how they get promotions. That's how they get those wage increases. And if you as a woman in that position, you're not doing that, you know, re-evaluate what you're doing and change your ways, uh, I just believe that there's, uh, I don't believe in giving people a promotion just because you're a woman or, or a person of color. We have to earn these things. And when you are given that promotion, do what is right.

You said an example, be a role model so that they cannot use your slackness as a means or a reason not to promote other women. And you say they are, you're talking about managers who? Managers and, and just people period, women period, you know, just do your job well and, um, try not to be so fearful of a retaliation. If you're not willing to get into the fire, then you need to get out of the kitchen. In other words, if you're not willing to go through something because if there's a cost in everything that we do, don't lean on the backs of those who are willing to get out there and, and to reap. Get in there with both feet, with both hands and see what you can do because each one of us have, have a role and if you are one of those women that feel that you've been discriminated and born either through promotions, you've gone back to school, um, you, and you believe it is valid, they get in there and, and help with this.

If not, then, you know, that's the decision that you've made. We agree to disagree. Thank you, Teri. Okay, go ahead. Even though it was a short period of time, three months, about three and a half months, I was a city council member, which I did become the first African-American woman to, to be on the city council with your dog, Kansas. That is incredible, Teresa. What was that? 1993.