Pulitzer Prize-winning couple's experiences inspire Rangel, Obama students

Pulitzer Prize-winning authors Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn spoke to Dallas ISD students from Irma Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School and the Barack Obama Male Leadership Academy about their experiences in writing about Sudan, inequality, sex trafficking and other topics.

Kristof and WuDunn, also husband and wife, have written two books together, Half The Sky and A Path Appears.

Students asked how they could be part of the solution to these issues.

Kristof had a suggestion: find an issue that speaks to you and your friends; research the issue; start a club that could have activities such as raising money or writing letters to elected officials.

Inequality – particularly among women and girls – was also a topic of discussion. “Society will be better off when everyone can reach their highest potential,” WuDunn said.

Girls’ access to education is a key. “Terrorists know the biggest threat is a girl with a book,” Kristof said. “I wish we would fund girls’ education as much as we fund drones.”

WuDunn added, “And we need to fund boys with books, too.”

The visit was initiated by Kevin Ann Willey, Editorial Page Editor of the Dallas Morning News, and Austin College and the Posey Foundation helped make the visit happen. Kristof and WuDunn are being honored with the Austin College Posey Foundation Leadership Award on Thursday, March 24, at The Perot Museum.