Black History Month is an excellent occasion to commemorate our history, achievements, and accomplishments. While it should not be confined to only one month, February serves as a perfect starting point. Numerous remarkable black individuals have achieved extraordinary feats. I deeply admire Clara McBride Hale and her dedicated work in nurturing babies impacted by crack addiction and HIV.
Clara McBride Hale, born in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, faced numerous hardships throughout her life. At 16, she became an orphan and at 27 a widow. With her own children and one adopted child by her side, Clara earned the nickname Mother Hale. She dedicated herself to caring for children in her neighborhood, charging only $2 per week. Eventually, she obtained a foster parent license.
Hale House originated when Lorraine, Clara’s daughter, came across a crack-addicted mother with a newborn and directed her to her mother’s residence. This initial infant marked the start of numerous children who were given affection, assistance, commitment, and care by Mother Hale. Hale House achieved international recognition as the leading child care organization in America when Ronald Reagan introduced Mother Hale during his 1986 State of the Union Address. Acknowledged as an American hero, she was selected for the National Drug-Free America Task Force.
Hale House is a sanctuary for children who frequently arrive from prisons, police stations, and hospitals. The institution relies mostly on private donations but continues to operate even during challenging times. Today, it stands as an outstanding national establishment for orphaned children, offering them a secure refuge from dangerous locations such as alleys and garbage cans where mothers abandon their infants.
Regrettably, Mother Hale died in 1993. However, a life-sized statue was erected in Harlem as a tribute to her. Her legacy of pursuing her dream and showing unwavering dedication remains alive through the children she cared for and the countless individuals who will forever be impacted by Hale House.
