February is Black History Month. Let’s celebrate the lives of these amazing women.
Zora Neale Hurston
Zora’s best known novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God, touches base with many important subjects such as gender roles, relationships, and race. Additionally, she studied the anthropology of people living in the Carribean islands. Zora has published over 50 short stories and plays.
Rosa Parks
Most famous for being arrested for refusing to move to the “colored section” of a bus in order for a white man to sit in the “white section,” Rosa Parks’ actions lead to the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which resulted in bus segregation laws being declared unconstitutional in the U.S. Supreme Court.
Mae Jemison
An astronaut who also has her doctorate degree in medicine from Cornell University, Mae became the first African-American woman in space in 1992. She founded the Jemison Group, which encourages interest in the sciences among high schoolers and also created The Earth We Share science camp program.
Beyoncé
(Black) Girls run the world. All six of her studio albums debuted as #1 on America’s Billboard 200. Incidentally, her recent Instagram photo announcing her pregnancy with twins holds the record for the most Instagram likes ever.
Maya Angelou
“I am a Woman // Phenomenally. // Phenomenal Woman, // that’s me.” As an author, poet, and civil rights activist, Maya’s autobiography, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, is the best selling non-fiction book by an African-American woman. It gives a first-hand experience of racial prejudice in the past.
Henrietta Lacks
While being treated for cancer in 1951, doctors harvested and cultured Henrietta’s cells without her permission. These cells later became known as the HeLa cell line, which has been used to research and create many vaccines we use today. Although her rights as a patient and black woman were completely violated, we should recognize Henrietta as the strong, hard-working mother she was.
Oprah Winfrey
Oprah’s talk show was the most popular of its time during its 25 year run – indicated by her 15 Daytime Emmy Awards. Her acting work includes The Color Purple and Selma, both historical films centered on the struggles and victories of African-Americans rights. Oprah founded Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa where teenage girls learn how to utilize their unique leadership abilities.