I Am Woman, Hear Me Roar

Women in today’s society seem to be taking over and every woman has a calling truly made just for her.

Kimba Langas, a native of Denver has a house over flowing with bras. They aren’t all for herself, instead they will head to the town of Mozambique, Africa. The bras are not for the women to wear, but to sell, the luxury item sold at top dollar can help the women escape sex trafficking in Mozambique. 

            Dr. Linda Spargo a native of Arkadelphia knows exactly how it feels to go through life learning that happiness comes from making a difference.

            Spargo began married life after college in Dallas in 1970. Her husband Chris Harris was the starting free safety his rookie year for the Cowboys.

            “He was there when they were called America’s Team and it changed my life,” Spargo said. “It put me around an economic group of people that were very celebrity oriented but they were still people.”

            Spargo, sitting in her chair with her legs crossed, back straight and hands folded, looked perfectly put together, like she had taken small qualities from her years as a football wife forever with her.

            “I felt like I was an observer of a lifestyle, I still worked at the apparel mart in the show room. There was a woman who did a book on the Dallas Cowboy wives and it was so traditional,” Spargo said. “I was 23 years old and I was perfectly cute, but she treated us all like we were very traditional stay at home people.”

            After six years in Dallas Spargo found her independent freedom in New York City.

Miles away in Mozambique women are fighting from being sold into sex trafficking as early as 12 years old. Without economic freedom it quickly becomes the only life these girls know and escaping seems impossible.

            With the large changes in the airline industry starting with the arrival of the 747 at American Airlines, Spargo found herself as a new flight attendant on the advanced airline.

            “I was 28 and loved living in the city and for the first time I was supporting myself, but the biggest issue for me was, American Airlines was a union,” Spargo said. “Because of union issues we were not able to provide good customer service for passengers and I hated working for that.”

             In a video with CNN, Dave Terpstra, Langas’ partner said these women finally have economic freedom and a way to support themselves and their families by selling bras that we donate through their new organization called “Free the Girls.”

Leaving New York after a year, Spargo set her sights on San Francisco, where she met her second husband. With the wine industry booming in California the two decided to wet their feet in a bucket full of grapes.

 “I knew nothing about wine and food,” Spargo said. “I remember one Christmas we ordered a Brie only made from cows who had eaten frozen grass. It was crazy.”

            Kimba Langas found the idea of donating bras a fun project, but she didn’t realize how large her impact would become.

            In her video with CNN Langas tears up saying she never thought how large the project would grow, a drive in Arizona collected 8,000 bras and another in Tennessee collected 3,000 bras, women from everywhere were coming together to help.

            In 1995 Spargo chose to move her and her daughter to Oxford, Mississippi where she could receive a doctorate in English. Then went on to work in the chancellor’s office starting with Dr. Khayat.

            Langas, wiping the tears from her eyes said Free the Girls was the first time she’d been involved in something in such a hands on tangible way.

            Spargo’s main involvement with the university was started when her daughter received a DUI.

            “There were pages and pages of DUI’s given out between 5 pm and 11 pm,” Spargo said. “I wanted to find a safer way for students to get around.”

            The idea of Rebel Ride came up in the spring of 1999 and started the next fall.

            “I’m not going to be president and I’m not going to be governor, but here I can make a difference in the life of a student,” Spargo said. “Whether it’s keeping them safe or helping them with life decisions.”

            Just like Spargo, Langas has found her way to make a difference. Free the Girls is online and ready to receive any help from women anywhere.  

Spargo at her office in the Lyceum.