Exhibit tells the story of South Florida pioneer Roxcy O'Neal Bolton

By Latoya Burgess / The Miami Herald

A local park dedicated to women's achievements will celebrate women's history month with the help of popular activist and pioneer, Roxcy O'Neal Bolton.

The exhibit, ``Retrospective on Roxcy O'Neal Bolton'' kicks off with a reception Thursday at 10 a.m., where attendees will watch a televised interview about the life of Bolton, followed by a few words from the guest of honor.

The free exhibit will continue through April 2 at the Women's Park History Gallery located at the Women's Park, 10251 W. Flagler St., in West Miami-Dade.

The gallery, a 6,000-square-foot exhibit space, was added to the park in 2000, thanks to $1 million in bond money.

Bolton says she is very excited about the upcoming event as she remembers the things she has donated for historic preservation over the years.

"I believe it is important to preserve the past; I am very proud of the record,'' said Bolton, of Coral Gables. "I gave all I had.''

The gallery features a Red Cross uniform Bolton wore when she worked as a volunteer in Japan, the dress she wore on the day the park's gallery first opened and a letter written by the first lady to Bolton commemorating her achievements.

"I received a letter from Michelle Obama about two months ago, I didn't even know she knew who I was. It was just so wonderful,'' Bolton said.

The Women's Park was created in June 1992 after a group of women leaders lobbied for the 15-acre, lakeside park to be created to honor women who made significant contributions to society.

Bolton is most famous for helping establish the first rape treatment center at Jackson Memorial Hospital when she confronted then Dade County Manager Ray Goode in the 70s.

"I asked him if he had a burn center,'' said Bolton. "He said, 'Yes, the best in the country.' I said, 'Well, that's what I want to see: a rape center just like that.' ''

The famous feminist was inducted into the Florida Women's Hall of Fame in 1984, helped establish The Florida National Organization for Women and helped form crime prevention teams later known as Crime Watch.

Bolton is widely known for her passion for fighting for women's rights, but she also has a passion for fighting racial injustice.

She says growing up as a "dirt farmer's daughter'' in rural Mississippi wasn't easy as she witnessed the harsh treatment of blacks.

"I love black America,'' she said. "The way they talked to blacks back then, it was very hard.''

Bolton says it really made her angry when people would ask her why she was being generous or helpful towards black people.

Bolton says that it is the small things she has done in her life that is the most special as she recalls a recent situation.

"There was this black guy who was suspended from Publix -- I felt without merit -- so I bought him a Christmas ham. He liked to cook. He had five kids. Things like that mean a lot to me,'' she said.

The pioneer believes there is still room for progress when it comes to women gaining leadership roles in America.

"We have never had a woman governor or a female president. . . . We have a long way to go,'' Bolton said.

Bolton will be featured in Women of True Grit a biographical book set to be released March 19 at the Women's Memorial Museum Bookstore in Washington, D.C.

The book features real-life success stories of various women from different backgrounds who struggled to create change.

At 83 years old, Bolton doesn't have an answering machine or a cellphone.

"I don't know about modern things,'' she said, "but I know what I have to do when I see injustices.''

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