In “Letter to My Daughter”, Maya Angelou wrote, ”You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.” When I think of this kind of resilience, I think of strong and fierce women.
The way we succeed, thrive, persevere and conquer in the face of, and despite adversity is nothing short of amazing. Our history is filled with women who exemplify resilience. There’s the all-women regiment of the Kingdom of Dahomey and the African women who became Queens and ruled their empires with power and grace. And then we can look to women who survived the middle passage and who had a hand in building this nation for free, while passing down stories, preserving our culture, mothering and nurturing.
There are the resilient heroes that we are all familiar with like Marian Anderson and Cicely Tyson. There are unsung heroes like Claudette Colvin and Barbara Jordan. There are women who fought for what was right, like First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. There are women who are paving the way and fighting the good fight currently - like Stacey Abrams and Kamala Harris. There are those who may not immediately be recognized by name – Pinky Cole, Sydney Barber, Stephanie Young, and Iesha Champs. All of these women (and the many more we will highlight) make us proud and inspire us to strive.
This blog is dedicated to resilient women - past and present. It will highlight women who have changed and who are changing the world - one bold act at a time. I want us to explore the roles and lives of women who are fighting for social justice, lending their voices to fight voter suppression, encouraging civic engagement, and devoting their lives to developing the leaders of tomorrow. I also want to honor and learn about the women of the past.
I hope you will join me on this epic, educational and inspiring journey.
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