With the current state of the country, Women’s History month is more important now than ever before. Women’s History month first began in 1981 when one month was dedicated to “commemorating and encouraging the study, observance and celebration of the vital role of women in American history.” After several years, congress passed a resolution to dedicate the entire month of March to Women’s History. This month helps to celebrate women’s achievements in math, science, history, engineering, and many other disciplines, and their dedication and research they have contributed to different parts of our lives as Americans.
With the recent women’s march and the planning of “a day without women” and other movements to show that women will not back down, it is not only important to learn more about the history of this month and the great women who inspired it, but also to look at the strong women now who continue to carry on the spirit of those who came before them.
In early February, Elizabeth Warren, a senator from Massachusetts, stood up for not just women but all of those in the U.S. Warren began reading a letter on the senate floor in opposition to Jeff Sessions, the nominee for Attorney General. The letter was written by Coretta Scott King, Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s wife. Mitch McConnell spoke up and said that this letter reflected poorly on Sessions’ character and was a personal attack by one Senator unto another which is against the Senate’s codes of conduct. After voting to silence Warren, she walked outside and began reading the letter via facebook live.
Warren was not to be silenced. Quickly McConnell’s words on Warren spread: “She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted.” Thousands of people took to twitter to tweet out not only McConnell’s own words but also the hashtag “#letlizspeak.” Women instantly resonated with McConnell’s words in that women are always being silenced but must continue on anyways. Those words along with pictures of women who have shaped our history were tweeted out together. Women like Malala, Rosa Parks, Harriet Tubman and many more.
Now is the time to be like Warren. We must all stand up for what we believe in and not let our voices be silenced. We must continue to persist. So this women’s month as you are reflecting on all the contributions that women have made to our history in the past and that women continue to make today, remember that you might be one of the women that girls are celebrating in March several decades down the line.
Here is some more information if you would like to learn more about Women’s History Month or some of the events taking place to celebrate it!