However, she understood that the strike exacerbated economic inequality for black Americans and she sought compromise in resolving it, such as an immediate wage raise, with her views shifting further to the strikers as police brutality escalated throughout the crisis.

In addition to the sanitation strike, her tumultuous tenure on the council also featured the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., tension over racial integration of the city, and increasing participation of women in politics.

[1] Reflecting on her political career, she described herself as a “middle of the roader” who represented all people, and she was proud that she won majorities of all electoral precincts—including those in predominately white and black locations of the town.

[1] A feature column in The Daily Memphian celebrating the city's bicentennial included Awsumb in its list of 200 key historical figures that "you don't know but should.

[1] After her death in 2003, the Tennessee General Assembly passed a resolution honoring her contributions to the city of Memphis and tenure as a council member and chair.