Beatrice “Bea” Lumpkin, a retired Chicago Public Schools teacher and lifelong activist, was born on August 13, 1918, in The Bronx, New York, making her an incredible 106 years of age.
Her journey into activism began during high school during the Great Depression. “I was focused on studying and the swim team, but I always knew, even when I was 6 years old, how much injustice there was. It was an easy observation to make,” Bea recalls. She remembers a pivotal moment when her entire high school walked out in protest as part of the anti-war movement. Curious about the protest, she asked a teammate what was happening, only to be told she wouldn’t be interested. “That made me all the more curious,” Bea explained, and her curiosity blossomed into lifelong activism. “Becoming an activist totally changed my life.”
After graduating from high school, Bea attended Hunter College, where tuition was free at the time, and earned her BA in 1939. She didn’t become a teacher right away, working instead in various jobs, including writing instruction manuals on how to build electronic equipment, which she says helped prepare her for her future as an educator.
Bea began her teaching career at the age of 47, joining Chicago Public Schools in 1965, later teaching at Malcolm X Community College, and eventually retiring from Washington High School at age 72. Although Bea had dreams of becoming a scientist when she was a little girl, she notes, “I always wanted to be a teacher.”
Today, Bea encourages those approaching retirement to stay active and keep learning. She attributes her longevity to “the wonderful people in my life that keep me going.” Passionate and vocal about important causes, Bea expresses concern for the future but also carries hope. She emphasizes the importance of continued activism and civic engagement. “All we can do is help in any small way and get the vote out,” she advises, urging everyone to contribute to positive change.
