“Trilogy of Her Story: Trailblazing Black Women in Fort Worth.” A Celebration of Black Excellence.

 

Fort Worth Museum of Science and History Presents

“Trilogy of Her Story: Trailblazing Black Women in Fort Worth.” A Celebration of Black Excellence Curated by Pastor Kyev Tatum

FORT WORTH, TEXAS — The ancestors are smiling, and the saints are shouting! In a moment of long-overdue recognition, the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History is shining a powerful spotlight on the brilliance, resilience, and faith of three extraordinary Black women whose impact still reverberates through our communities today.

From the church pews to the publishing house, from the golf course to the gospel stage—these women were called, chosen, and covered by the hand of God to break down barriers and pave the way for future generations.

Curated by none other than Pastor Kyev Tatum, a warrior for truth and a guardian of our history, Trilogy of Her Story: Trailblazing Black Women in Fort Worth is more than an exhibition—it is a homecoming, a revival, and a reckoning with the stories that have too often been hidden or overlooked. From March 2025 to June 2025, we invite you to witness history, honor our foremothers, and stand in awe of their legacy.

Honoring Three Women Who Refused to Be Silent, Stopped, or Shut Out

Gladys Lee: “Gifted on the Greens”

When the world told her that golf wasn’t a game for Black women, Gladys Lee picked up a club and proved them all wrong. As the most decorated female golfer in Fort Worth history, she not only played the game—she changed it. Lee broke through barriers of race and gender, stepping onto greens where Black women had never been welcome and teaching the next generation that the fairway belonged to them too.

She became a respected LPGA golf coach, paving the way for young Black golfers to rise in a sport that once shut its doors on us. Her story is one of quiet power and undeniable greatness, reminding us that faith and perseverance can take you places the world says you don’t belong.

Dr. Mary Francine Reese Morrison: “The Songbird of the South”

She didn’t just sing—she ministered through music. Dr. Mary Francine Reese Morrison was blessed with a voice that could lift spirits, break chains, and bring people to their feet in praise. She knew that her gift came from God, and she refused to compromise it by singing in venues that did not honor her faith.

From Fort Worth to the national stage, from church choirs to legendary performances, Morrison used her voice to spread the gospel and uplift our people. Her unwavering commitment to her calling made her one of the most influential gospel singers of her time. She later earned a doctorate in divinity and became a spiritual leader, showing that ministry comes in many forms. Her voice may have been silenced on this side of glory, but her legacy sings on.

Beatrice Pringle: “The Queen Publisher of the Prairie”

At a time when Black women were told to stay behind the scenes, Beatrice Pringle stepped into the spotlight as a publishing powerhouse. In 1975, she made history as the first woman publisher of Sepia Magazine, a platform that lifted up Black voices, told our stories, and refused to let the world ignore our excellence.

While mainstream media was ignoring the brilliance, beauty, and contributions of Black people, Pringle was putting our faces, our victories, and our struggles front and center. She documented our history in real time, ensuring that the next generation could look back and see their greatness reflected on every page.

She wasn’t just a publisher—she was a protector of our legacy. Her work helped shape the narrative of Black America and reminded us that our stories are worth telling, publishing, and celebrating.

Meet the Curator: Pastor Kyev Tatum – A Keeper of Our History

When the world forgets, the Black church remembers. And Pastor Kyev Tatum has made it his mission to ensure that the stories of our people—the struggles, the victories, the faith that carried us through—will not be erased.

As a civil rights leader, historian, and pastor of New Mount Rose Missionary Baptist Church, Pastor Tatum has spent decades uncovering the hidden chapters of Black Texas history. From his groundbreaking work on the 1868 Millican Massacre to his leadership in the Texas 6888th Project honoring Black women in the military, he has fought to bring our history out of the shadows and into the light.

His journey into museum curation began with his Before Little Rock exhibit at the Mansfield Museum, where he shed light on the 1956 Mansfield School Desegregation Crisis. That experience revealed a hunger for truth in the community. “We discovered that people were deeply interested in the stories that had long been overlooked,” he says. “This exhibit is a chance to give these women the recognition they deserve and to inspire future generations with their remarkable achievements.”

Pastor Tatum is also the driving force behind:

✅ Fighting Black in Texas – An anthology of Black Texans who resisted racial injustice

✅ The Texas 6888th Project – Honoring the all-Black, all-female WWII postal battalion

✅ Black Land in White Hands: Healing and Rebuilding – A discussion on Black land loss

He has dedicated his life to preserving the stories of our elders, our freedom fighters, our pioneers, and our trailblazers. His passion and expertise have now led him to curate Trilogy of Her Story, a tribute to Black women whose contributions shaped history.

Experience “Trilogy of Her Story” – A Revival of Black Excellence

This once-in-a-lifetime exhibit will feature:

✨ Rare photographs capturing moments of triumph

✨ Historical artifacts from each woman’s life and career

✨ Personal testimonies from those who knew and were inspired by them

This exhibit is more than history—it is a call to action to honor, preserve, and continue the legacy of Black women who paved the way.

We invite the Black church, the community, our elders, and our youth to come out and experience this powerful celebration. Bring your children, bring your choir, bring your family. These are our stories, our victories, our history.

For More Information

📞 Rev. Kyev P. Tatum, Sr.

Pastor and Mediator

New Mount Rose Missionary Baptist Church

Ministers Justice Coalition of Texas

2864 Mississippi Avenue, Fort Worth, Texas 76104

📞 817-966-7625 | ✉️ kptatum1@gmail.com

🔗 Website: www.newmountrose.com

🎥 Watch: https://youtu.be/T7PeAaZkkwI

A Final Word from the Community

Black history is not just something we read about—it’s something we live. And thanks to Pastor Kyev Tatum and the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, we will continue to honor our foremothers, uplift our stories, and pass down our history—not just for us, but for generations yet to come.

Black women have been leading, shaping, and transforming our world since the beginning of time. And now, in Fort Worth, Texas, we are finally giving them their flowers.