People who contributed to black history are often unsung and unrecognized, said the vice president of the National Council of Negro Women.

"We owe a great debt to a great number of people," said Brenda Girton. Girton spoke last night on behalf of Dorothy Height, the president of the NCNW and the speaker originally scheduled to speak. Height could not make the speech because of illness.

Girton spoke about the importance history plays in the present lives of black women. Girton said throughout history people have struggled in order to make things better for other generations.

The history of black women, Girton said, is about everyday women who did extraordinary things. Black women can be inspired by history, she continued. Girton said today's black women must remember the black women throughout history who made a difference.

"We must remember all of them and add to their numbers," she said. "The list is long -- add yourselves to the numbers."

"We are the women of today and tomorrow, we are women seeking answers to life's rhetorical questions, we do more than our best because we have accepted life's challenges," Girton told an audience in the Kern Building assembly room.

Girton also urges women to take a stand. In a pre-speech press conference, she said black women must make their voices heard in order to fight negative stereotypes. "You've got to be willing to make a stand for something ... in order to make a difference."

Girton urged the audience not to let stereotypes keep them down, but instead lift them up. "I'm searching for a way to get people not to give up," she said.

She suggested blacks maintain a positive attitude and stick together as a family would. "We need each other, be good to each other." Girton proclaimed that the audience was, in a sense, related to her.

"We are an extended family," she said. "All of us are standing on somebody's shoulders and somebody should be standing on ours if America is to be a better place." Girton said, "we all have to reach out and hold hands with others."

Girton also stressed the importance of action and change. "Don't rest on your laurels ... you've got to keep reaching and climbing higher and higher," she said. "Stay motivated."

Girton, a Washington, D.C. lawyer, said lifestyle changes are difficult to implement, and fear of change often prevents people from exploring different options available to them.

"Decision-making is risky business," Girton said, because the possibility of making a mistake is so frightening. But, she said, women must decide what they want to do, go out there and do it.

"I think action is better than reaction," she said. "Little things can make a difference." Persons who find themselves in a rut and dislike what they are doing should make themselves change, Girton stated.

"Make those decisions that will make you feel better about yourselves," she said.

Girton ended her speech with advice for those present to be good to themselves and reward themselves now for their achievements. "Resolve today to make the best out of your lives," Girton said.

Stephanie Patterson (freshman-accounting) said, "I thought (the speech) was excellent."

Andrey Berndley (graduate-curriculum and supervision) said, "It was a speech of substance, it was meaningful." Berndley said Girton focused on African-American people and their plight and offered helpful suggestions to them.

The speech was sponsored by Delta Sigma Theta sorority, one of the University's four historically black sororities, and was part of the Panhellenic Council's celebration of Women's Awareness Week.