Honoring Women’s History Month

“Women of every color, ethnicity, spiritual, cultural, educational and economic background throughout the world are evolving as leaders, visionaries and change agents to restore balance, peace, and justice to heal humanity and the world.”

– Harriet Tubman Wright

I’m proud to come from a long lineage of powerful African and African American women trailblazers, movers and shakers, those who have defied the odds, broken the barriers and raised the bar of excellence in every field of endeavor! I’m not only standing on the shoulders of these women but standing shoulder to shoulder with many of them!

Africa – In antiquity: Auset, Queen Hatshesut, Queen of Sheba, Queen Nzinga to contemporary times: Wangari Mathaai, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Winnie Mandela, Sobonfu Somé, Miriam Makeba, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira…

Activists/Freedom Fighters – Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, Ella Baker, Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks, Coretta Scott King, Betty Shabazz, Aileen Hernandez, Marion Wright Edelman, Shirley Chisolm, Dorothy Height, Anita Hill, Angela Davis, Assata Shakur, Ericka Huggins, Kathleen Cleaver, Betty Reid Soskin, Sybrina Fulton, Alicia Garza, Patrisse Khan Cullors, Opal Tometi…

Artists; many of whom used their artistry to promote social change – Gwendolyn Brooks, Josephine Baker, Marian Anderson, Bessie Smith, Billie Holliday, Lena Horne, Aretha Franklin, Berniece Johnson Reagon, Whitney Houston, Katherine Dunham, Carmen de Lavallade, Judith Jamison, Ruth Beckford, Lorraine Hansberry, Maya Angelou, Nina Simone, Eartha Kitt, Toni Morrison, Zora Neale Hurston, Octavia Butler, Alice Walker, Audre Lorde, Hattie McDaniels, Dianne Caroll, Naomi Sims, Vanessa Williams, Halle Berry, Whoopie Goldberg, Cicely Tyson, Viola Davis, Shonda Rhimes, Ava DuVernay, Luisah Teish…

Athletes – Wilma Rudolph, Alice Coachman, Althea Gipson, Florence Griffith-Joyner, Serena and Venus Williams, Laila Ali, Gabby Douglas, Simone Biles, Dominique Dawes…

Educators & Scientists – Mary McLeod Bethune, Johnetta Cole, Dr. Ruth J. Simmons, Dr. Mae Jemison, Shirley Ann Jackson, Marie Van Britton Brown, Bessie Coleman, Henrietta Lacks…

Entrepreneurs – Madam CJ Walker, Sheila Johnson, Janice Bryant Howroyd, Lisa Price…

Media – Ida B. Wells, Charlayne Hunter Gault, Susan Taylor, Oprah Winfrey…

Public Office – Condoleezza Rice, Carol Mosely Braun, Barbara Jordan, Regina Benjamin, Loretta Lynch, Susan Rice, Barbara Lee …

Spiritual Leaders – Bishop Leontine Kelly, Iyanla Vanzant, Rev. Johnnie Colemon, Bishop Dr. Barbara King…

Category of Her Own – Michelle Obama

Take a moment to think about your sheroes, that is, in addition to your grandmothers, great grandmothers or other powerful women in your family.

• What women have been the most influential role models for you? 
• In what ways can you apply the lessons of their trials, tribulations and triumphs? 
• What qualities do the women listed above have in common? 
• Who are other African or African American women you’d add to the list? 
• In what ways can you cultivate greater influence and leadership?

We can look to these women of influence, power and leadership; revolutionary women of courage, wisdom, faith and talent who have changed the world and are changing the world, to help fuel our own desires to BE the change we seek for ourselves and our world!

I encourage you to learn about women that you’ve never heard of or know about.

Your feedback is appreciated. Please share your comments below… 

Finally, Blessings for the Spring Equinox, Easter and Moving Forward with Spirit, Soul and Substance!