 Initially, Howard had turned down the opportunity and his wife was not included in the offer, but when the trip was finally agreed, both were participants.Thurman was not chosen simply as the wife of Howard Thurman but, in the words of the committee, because she was one of "four persons best able to do this particular job".This decision was remarkable for the period given that black women were often invisible members of society and generally prohibited from authoritative roles in social welfare programs.