Former Philadelphia City Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds-Brown discusses her career in politics

By Jay Nachman

Writing a book was a lifelong dream for former Philadelphia City Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds-Brown. Now, she can add “author” to her long list of distinguished career accomplishments. Reynolds-Brown recently published “Walking a Tightrope Backwards in High Heels.” The book is part political memoir and part leadership manifesto. It offers a powerful account from a former public servant. Her story shows what can be achieved with equal measures of moxie and grace.

The title comes from personal experience. It is a phrase Reynolds-Brown, 72, often used on the floor of City Council. “I was a working mother, walking on a tightrope, backwards, in high heels,” she said.
The idea comes from a quote frequently attributed to dancer Ginger Rogers, who said that she did everything her partner Fred Astaire did. But she did it “backwards and in high heels.”

Reynolds-Brown adopted the metaphor, because it’s factual. “In many ways, I saw my career that way,” she said. “Always doing the juggling act between my personal drive and ambition, balanced with wanting to be a present helicopter mom and an attentive wife.”

Before entering politics, Reynolds-Brown danced professionally for about 10 years as a member of Philadanco (Philadelphia Dance Company). She taught jazz classes until she ran for City Council for a second time in 1999. “I carried my briefcase on one arm and my dance bag on the other,” she said.
Reynolds-Brown holds both a master’s and a bachelor’s degree in education from Penn State. She is also a “proud” graduate of Philadelphia High School for Girls. She began her career as an educator. But soon realized she wanted to develop professionally beyond the classroom.

She transitioned into youth development, working as an evaluator of Philadelphia youth programs and counselor for young people  involved in the juvenile justice system at Philadelphia Family Court.

In the 1990s, Reynolds-Brown worked in Harrisburg for Pennsylvania Sen. Chaka Fattah Sr. She noticed that there were 50 state senators, but no female African American legislative aides. “How could that be?,” Reynolds-Brown wondered. She was on her way to becoming the only Black and only female state senate legislative aide at that time.

“If women are going to have their issues discussed at the table, if women are going to have issues regarding family and children and health care and the arts discussed at the table, we need to be at the table,” said Reynolds-Brown, who has one daughter. “I saw too often this reality, this picture. When women were not at the table, we were on the menu.” So, Reynolds-Brown left her role as a government professional and entered electoral politics. The Wynnefield resident went on to win five consecutive terms as an at-large city councilwoman.

As one of Philadelphia’s most influential councilwomen, Reynolds-Brown shattered glass ceilings. She championed transformative legislation on behalf of women’s advancement, as well as opportunities for children and families. Her impact extended to the arts, minorities, women-owned businesses LGBTQ+ rights and environmental initiatives.

She also was a championship-level mentor. “We should lift as we climb,” she said. “One chapter in my book is devoted to coaching. It discusses how mentoring is so valuable. Why? Because ultimately coaching can yield wonderful rewards for all involved,” she said. “My last chapter, called ‘Passing The Baton, aka Legacy,’ focuses on the importance of mentoring and coaching.”

From start to publication, it took Reynolds-Brown five years of work. She began by writing in longhand on pads of paper and her iPad. All the while, while pulling notes from dozens of boxes of pictures and files. Eventually, her daughter convinced her to use the computer.

Among the audiences Reynolds-Brown has in mind for the book are women who are thinking about entering non-traditional careers, including electoral politics. The book offers tools and strategies they can consider when entering that world.

Additionally, she said, the book is for mentors, coaches, fathers of girls and especially for women “who desire to climb the career ladder with the understanding that no one gets an exemption from a trip up, boulder or dark tunnel. The book offers lessons that one should consider when you’re on the rebound of those sometimes avoidable, sometimes non-avoidable, firestorms.”

Free book launch event

The official book launch of “Walking a Tightrope Backwards in High Heels,” written by Blondell Reynolds-Brown, in converstaion with 6abc’s Tamala Edwards, will be Sept. 17, at 7 p.m., at Parkway Central Library, located at 1901 Vine St. The event is free, but registration is required at https://freeLibrary.org/calendar.

Jay Nachman is a freelance writer in Philadelphia who tells stories for a variety of clients.