Ruth Cousins Denny (November 1, 1920 - October 9, 2012) was a Black educator and civil rights activist in Denver, Colorado.
Her father had been a chauffeur for the Rand family, owners of International Shoe Company, and her mother worked as domestic help and as a nanny.
[1] Denny moved out west because she thought it would be a more liberal and accepting place than Missouri, and was surprised when she faced similar discrimination in Colorado.
[1] Her community activities included: She led many activities to improve civil rights in Denver, including picketing at businesses that used discriminatory hiring and promotion practices; promoted fair policies in Denver Public Schools for both teachers and children; and integrated the Sportland YMCA by being the first African American family to purchase a family membership.
[1] One target of her activism was Denver Dry Goods, a department store which only employed Black people as janitors.
[3] She initiated the "Rebels Remembered" project to compile a history of the civil rights movement in Denver.