Mary Ratcliff | 81

This is a written profile only.

Interview date: 7/27/20

Referred, Interviewed, and Written by: Judy Goddess

Since 1991 when Mary Ratcliff, now 81, and her husband Dr. Willie Ratcliff bought the San Francisco Bay View newspaper, they have turned a neighborhood paper into a nationally respected vehicle for the Black community and prison reform. “Our paper was the ONLY paper covering police brutality in the ‘90s. That was a breakthrough that didn’t bear fruit until these last few months (referring to spring/summer 2020), but oh how glad I am that we were the crazy pioneers who believed that if the people knew the truth they could prevail and win justice. It’s taken a while, but I’m proud we started it.”

“Justice, fairness and kindness – all those human qualities.” Ratcliff has been fighting for those issues all her life.

Most Defining Moment of Her Life:

The most defining moment of Ratcliff’s life was the 2011 hunger strike by inmates in Pelican Bay State Prison’s Security Housing Unit. “Two Black cellmates sent us articles and we published them.” This constant drumbeat of information triggered strikes in other prisons around the State.

Suspected gang members were put in solitary, locked in small, windowless cells away from the general prison population, for decades. The only way out of solitary was by snitching on other gang members, thereby putting their own lives in danger. The strikers demanded an end to indefinite solitary, the practice of requiring snitching or dying as the only way out of solitary, and for improved living conditions: better education and rehabilitation programs, adequate and nutritious food.

Three hunger strikers were organized between 2011-2013, each time engaging more inmates in the movement. The first two strikes ended when the Legislature promised reform. When nothing changed, a third strike was called. Over 30,000 inmates across the prison system honored the strike call.

Prison officials blamed the SF Bay View for the hunger strike. "To think,” Ratcliff said, “we inspired 30,000 people to starve themselves for justice.”

The SF Bay View has always pushed the envelope. “We deliberately allow ourselves to be targets in our effort to make breakthroughs. When you break through a glass ceiling, you can get cut. But what a triumph even to try! How can you have any respect for yourself if you’re satisfied with being a doormat. We knew what we were getting into and went forward boldly to clear the path for others to follow.”

Impact of COVID-19

Ratcliff has always been an “workaholic,” three to four hours of sleep a night gave her the energy to keep going. But lately, her energy has flagged. “My body is saying No. My options are more limited.”

The pandemic and sheltering-at-home have limited everyone’s options. These times don’t feel restrictive to Ratcliff, “I get such good articles about what’s happening, I sometimes feel like I attended the event,” but she wonders how others are managing “staying home with so little stimulation.”

Young People and BLM Make Her Optimistic

Ratcliff is optimistic about the young people and Black Lives Matter.

“Look at all these young people. I have such a strong sense that we’re going to redress things. All these mutual-help groups. They’re asking, ‘what can I do to help?’ I tell young people, ‘be Greta Thunberg.’

“Protests are empowering. They’ve disruptions. We don’t challenge racism enough. There’s a kind of malaise. There’s potent opportunity in this malaise. I’m hopeful affirmative action may be coming back.”

Looking Back

“It’s an incredibly good fortune to have lived this long. I hear people talk about events and we were there. The arc of history to fascinating to watch. I’m privileged to have lived such a full and fascinating life. What a ride!”

While we never know the future, the Ratcliff’s are both feeling their age. Willie Ratcliff has a long-term chronic illness that greatly curtails his participation in the paper, while Mary Ratcliff has been diagnosed with breast cancer and is starting chemotherapy. After an extensive search they found a new, younger editor and a cooperative ownership structure for the paper.

This doesn’t mean that they’ll walk away – how can one walk away from a passion? – but it will reduce some pressure.

The SF Bay View

Before they declared bankruptcy in 2008, the SF Bay View came out every two weeks, it is now a 20-page, densely packed, monthly publication. A third or more of the paper is devoted to prison news, written by inmates in prisons around the country. Money has always been a problem. “We almost never have the money on hand when we begin laying out the issue.”