Service above self: Surluta Anthony on Being the First Black Woman on Monroe City Council in NC

Collective Power Podcast

In this episode, Diane Little and Dr. Rita interview a pioneer of public service in North Carolina Surluta Anthony was the first Black woman elected to Monroe City Council—despite Monroe has a majority Black population. Now elected for the third turn, Ms. Anthony provides valuable insights and advice on what it means to be in public service and how to do it well. Miss Anthony shares how she ran for office to “be at the table” of decision-making and how she stayed through her principles of “Service before self’ along with a great dose of courage and political savviness. She was influenced by Robert F. Williams’ activism, also a local to Monroe. She speaks about how she thrived in public service, how it’s her purpose, how she found that out and how she brought DEI work to Monroe.
A personal favorite: she shared what is missing from our current discourse on public service: feeling valued and capable of making a difference.
Surluta Belton Anthony was born October 4, 1947 at home on Winchester Ave to educators Dr. Edward and Mrs. Christine Belton. She had a happy nurturing childhood in a Christian, socially and civic aware household. She talked early and read well at four. She had an early love of community fostered by her parents. She attended the segregated Winchester Ave School from first to twelfth grades , serving as class President in the sixth, eighth, tenth and twelfth grades. Her leadership skills extended to North Carolina Central University where she was president of the Annie Day Shepherd Freshman Women’s Dorm and representative to student government. Surluta is a graduate of Anson Community College, Pfeiffer University and the Sure Theological Institute.
Taking office in 2013, Surluta was the first Black woman elected to Monroe City Council; she is currently serving her third term.
Resources:
Surluta Anthony's email: [e-mail]
Originally recorded on June 25, 2024.

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