Hello fellow learners,
Throughout history there have been many accomplishments and
strides that have changed our world. We write about these people and acknowledge
their work for generations. We have our children learn about them in school, build
monuments like statues, create arts of remembrance, and write about them and
their lives to be forever recognized.
These people were able to further humankind and our appreciation
of what we have yet to know about our universe and ourselves. Though, what
about the people who aren’t recognized? Or the ones who are hardly ever
remembered by the general population? History, even today, shows how hard it is
for people of color and women. So today, I want to shine a light on the women that
brought new ideas, gave us inspiration, and changed our world. I want to write
about them, their accomplishments, and give tributes to their hard work.
Madam
C.J. Walker, an African American woman, started her own business. She
was born on December 23, 1867. She was orphaned at seven, married at 14, and
had a daughter with McWilliams who died when their daughter was two. She faced cruelty, hard-working
labor, and had many difficult problems.
Yet through inspiration, hard work, and success, she created
a line hair products for other African American women named “Madam Walker’s
Wonderful Hair Grower.” She started training programs named the “Walker System”
for her employees of 40,000 African American women and men. She advocated for the
anti-lynching movement and used her wealth to pay for six African American students
to go to the Tuskegee institute and so much more. Unfortunately she had kidney
failure, but before her death, she gave “two-thirds of future net profits to charity,
as well as thousands of dollars to various individuals and schools.” (National
Women’s History Museum)
Going further ahead, there was Judith Love Cohen, an Aerospace engineer. She was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1933. At a young age, she had a love for mathematics and was able to take advanced math classes in middle school. Even though the career advisors told her that math wasn’t for young women, she kept her passion close to her heart and continued to work hard. She eventually joined Space Technology Laboratories and helped with many projects. Such as building the Abort Guidance System that was able to bring Lovell, Haise, and Swigert back to Earth. "She was also involved in colorizing the images collected through the various filters — when you look at the amazing images of galaxies in deep space, you're looking at Cohen's work." (Judith Love Cohen - Northrop Grumman)
Then there is Greta Gerwig, who is a director and actress. She was born in August 4, 1983 and grew up in Sacramento. She attended an all-girls Roman Catholic high school and worked in theater productions and later went to Barnard College in New York City. She majored in English, acted, and wrote plays while in college. After a while, she wrote and directed Lady Bird. It launched her screenplay and director career and created many more movies. Some of which are Little Women 2019 and Barbie 2023.
Madam C.J. Walker was an activist and businesswomen, Judith
Love Cohen was an Aerospace engineer, and Greta Gerwig is a director and
actress.
All of these women are different. Yet they all shared perseverance, passion, and the strength to do their works. Even though people tried to dismiss them, say they couldn’t do it, or even tried to stop them, they continued to work hard. It resonates with all of womankind when one of us breaks through the barriers and bring their contributions to our world, our history, and an acknowledgement to women and their strengths everywhere.
See you later fellow learners,
-Mia R.
Want to learn more? Here are their stories!
I love how you’re writing about women on our month! One specific one that stuck out to me was the African American women who was struck into all the labor/slavery and she died when he daughter was two. It’s just very sad hearing these types of stories and I’m glad you brought them to light!- miko dossie
ReplyDeleteOh hell yes, I love when people elevate women who deserve our praise. Have you ever heard of the Mothers of Science Fiction? Even Asimov, the acclaimed father of Science Fiction, says he cribbed from Mary Shelly and we wouldn't have Star Trek without Lucille Ball and her contributions. All thanks to women who never heard "you can't do it"
ReplyDeleteInformative and inspiring post, Mia.
ReplyDelete