Emmy Rappe was an American social worker, educator and author who lived in New Orleans during the great depression. She worked with the community in order to help them overcome poverty and build self-sufficiency. Her most important book is “The Nationality of Woman: A Study in the Nationality of Womanhood”, which exposed the national origins of white supremacy in the United States. Other works included “Rising above the Clouds”, “Starry Night”, “Songs of Paradise” and “The Nationality of Woman: A Study in the Nationality of Womanhood”.
As a nurse, Emmy Rappe built upon the work she did in the field of nursing in New Orleans by making the case for social justice as it related to race, gender and class. She repeatedly demonstrated that physical and mental health should be given primary attention and that people of color would benefit most from receiving such care. She also spoke out against racism and sexism in nursing, which still exists to this day.
As an author, she has continued to be concerned with issues that affect people’s lives and how those issues are created, perpetuated and controlled by powerful forces. These include white supremacy, sexism and homophobia. All of these topics are very timely and relevant in our time and are matters that need to be discussed, understood and addressed. Hopefully, one day in the near future, there will be a renaissance in the profession of nursing and all of the advances that have been made can be applied to eliminating all forms of injustice and discrimination both in the United States and around the world.