Happy Women’s
Day!
Women receive a day to be celebrated and honoured, and
today I wish to highlight three women of colour who have made various contributions
to help us move forward.  |
| Sojourner Truth |
Sojourner Truth: Born into slavery, she was the first black female
to win a case against a plantation owner in the court of law during the 19th
Century. The self-named activist believed in liberty and freedom and fought
hard to achieve same for her people. Sojourner was also a women’s right pioneer
as she not only fought for freedom, she actively fought for the rights of women
– coloured or not – and delivered her speech “Ain’t I a Woman?” in 1851 to
voice her discontent. She met two
presidents (Lincoln and Grant) with whom she had discussions regarding the
rights of her people. She was never afraid of repercussions, she faced her
battles without fear and she managed to help get the ball rolling for women’s
rights.
 |
| Mary Church Terrell |
Mary Church Terrell: As one of the first women of colour to receive a
Bachelor’s Degree, Mary decided to use her education, her knowledge and
experiences as an individual on the margin of society to make her voice heard.
Terrell grew up to witness how women, especially
women of colour, suffered educationally, mentally, emotionally and physically.
In an effort to prove she would not be forced to be at the edge of society, she
studied different languages in Europe and
became qualified enough to become the first coloured female to be on the District of Columbia Board of Education. She,
along with her daughter, Phyllis, fought for over 50 years to veto the Jim Crow
law that supported segregation. She lived long enough to see to its end in 1954
and died shortly after at the age of 90.
 |
| Ida B. Wells |
Ida B. Wells: We have heard of Rosa Parks’ refusal to give up her
seat on the bus; however, Ida B. Wells was the first to do so. During a train
ride in 1884, the investigative journalist, author, educator and scholar
refused to give up her seat. The events that followed started a chain reaction
for the rights of coloured folks. She was a woman who noticed that something
was wrong with the society and did her part by documenting the ills and
publishing them to places far and wide; even as far as Europe. She was also the
co-founder of the NAACP and has several publications citing the harsh realities
she faced, not only as a coloured individual, but also as a woman.
Yes, while we
celebrate Women’s Day and revel in all the joys of being a woman, we need to
remember how hard it was to get here. From winning the right to vote to winning
the right to work outside the home; from getting a place in parliament, to
having the ability to run for president. As women, we need to show that our
fight was worth it! Continue making a mark in this society. Become unforgettable
CEOs that run companies with an iron fist and entrepreneurs that keep coming up
with new and fresh ideas to keep our world running.
We are the
mothers, teachers, nurses and nurturers of this society and that will never
change!!
Happy Women’s
Day to all my ladies around the world!!
Jodi-Ann is an Environmental Studies major in Nova
Scotia, Canada.
***Disclaimer: I do not own any of the photos. Photos acquired from external sources.
Sources:
http://www.uni.edu/icss/143/fa06/profiles/terrellbio.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Terrell
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ida_B._Wells
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sojourner_Truth
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ain%27t_I_a_Woman%3F
No comments:
Post a Comment