Coloring Outside the Lines

Elizabeth Patterson creatively closes her life story using the voice of a jewelry armoire, escorting the reader drawer by drawer to examine some of the pieces tucked inside: awards, ribbons, pins, travel tokens, jewelry pieces made by her mother, and other assorted mementos symbolizing important moments from the author’s life. However, one quickly realizes that these small artifacts alone simply cannot do justice for a woman who stands as one of history’s “hidden figures” for diversifying radiology departments and paving the way for more women’s participation in the field.

In 1936 her parents trudged nearly a half-mile through knee-deep snow to a Pennsylvania hospital to deliver Elizabeth. “Each step required immense strength, as if they were dragging their feet through heavy, invisible resistance.” The description of their journey that night might have served as a premonition of what the world would hold for their daughter.

Autobiographical in nature, Coloring Outside the Lines is easy to read in first person narrative style. Fifty chapters capture the many life changes that Elizabeth experienced. With a remarkably comfortable early life, she and her brother Ben were loved and guided by two very strong and supportive parents. When things fell apart along life’s journey, these parents provided a safety net and a reminder of what resilience looks like even though “early shades of prejudice” had not yet settled upon the children. Only later would Elizabeth learn that Ben felt and suffered from the burden of racism more than she (though he too forged a way around it for himself by moving to Europe).

Armed with her own brand of graceful determination, Elizabeth charts a course for herself that allows no room for “I can’t” or “I’m not allowed.” Although being the “only” is often lonely, she becomes the first African American woman radiology resident in Pittsburgh. On account of that, she is asked to teach anatomy and physiology to radiology students, being encouraged by one of her mentors to also get more involved in the community. She does, though not always happily. “I disliked patronizing the Pittsburgh Athletic Association, a private men’s club whose membership excluded “Jews and Negroes. Even though the staff members were friendly to me, I disliked entering the building.”

So, what would an astute woman do? She listens carefully to the men presenters. She pays attention to the layout of their programs. She continues growing from the margins, knowing one day she will penetrate those barriers.

Over time, more women begin to enter the field of radiology, and slowly a handful of Black women enter the field, a field that is rapidly advancing with new technologies.

More than anything else, a reader comes away with a magnificent picture of endurance and resilience, all building toward critical contributions to our world. Dr. Elizabeth Patterson spent a lifetime breaking through barriers for Black women in the medical field. She became the first African American woman to be granted the gold medal by the American College of Radiology. If that gold medal is not in one of the drawers of her armoire, her autobiography needs to be.

I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in women’s studies, the medical field, autobiographies, and life stories, especially those of African American women. This particular book is a testament to setting one’s sights on a goal, remaining flexible, and never giving up or giving in. You simply must read Elizabeth’s story to get the details of her life’s journey and witness how she chose to navigate circumstances, doubts and all. She’s an unforgettable role model for others.