Government & political leaders
Doris Bunte
1933–2021
Massachusetts connection
Boston; Massachusetts House of Representatives
In 1973 Bunte became the first Black woman to serve in the Massachusetts legislature. Her story helps us investigate how access to public office has changed. Being represented means having people who can bring a community’s experiences and concerns into decisions.
You can use your device’s reading tools or read with a partner.
Your turn, historian
Find a detail. Build an idea.
- What did this person or group do? Point to a detail in the reading.
- Whose voice did this person bring into public decisions?
- What would you like to find out next? Which kind of source could help?
“Doris Bunte mattered because ___. A detail that supports my idea is ___.”
Follow the evidence.
This short reading is an original classroom summary. Open the source with your teacher to check details and learn more.
Read the source: Commonwealth of Massachusetts ↗Ask: Who made this source? What can it tell us? What might it leave out?