arian Wright Edelman was born the youngest of five children on June 6, 1939 in Bennettsville, South Carolina. Her parents, Maggie and Arthur emphasized education, a strong work ethic, and service to others. They used to tell her, “If you see a need, don’t ask why somebody doesn’t do it. See what you can do.” Her dad, a Baptist minister, declared, “God runs a full employment economy… if you just follow the need, you will never lack for something to do or a real purpose in life.”1
Her parents practiced what they preached by starting Wright Home for the Aged, which meant more chores for everyone. Marian, of course, didn’t enjoy chores as a child. Since her dad would give her a break from chores when she was reading, she read a lot. Sadly, Marian’s dad died from a heart attack when she was only 14. His last words to her were, “Don’t let anything get between you and your education.”2
Marian honored his wish by graduating from Yale Law School in 1963, serving as a Civil Rights attorney with the NAACP’s Legal Defense and Educational Fund, and becoming the first African American woman to pass the Mississippi Bar exam in 1964. While in Mississippi, Miss Wright met Peter Edelman and became Mrs. Wright Edelman on July 4, 1968. The Edelmans had three sons and since Peter was Jewish, the couple agreed to raise their boys with knowledge of both religions.
The religious liberty practiced at home also guides Edelman’s organization, the Children’s Defense Fund (CDF). An example is the CDF’s annual Children’s Sabbath Celebration. The calendar dates are from Friday to Sunday to encourage people of different faiths to champion children’s causes on their respective days of worship, because we’re all God’s children.3
