PHOTO BY THE SUN
KATHERINE JOHNSON “Like what you do, and then you will do your best.” Katherine Johnson, born in West Virginia in 1918, was an African-American mathematician whose work with NASA and orbital mechanics calculations was critical to the success of America’s crewed spaceflights. She is remembered as one of the first black women to work as a scientist at NASA. In addition to her mathematical achievements, her contributions
JOSEPHINE BAKER “All my life, I have maintained that the people of the world can learn to live together in peace if they are not brought up in prejudice.” Josephine Baker, a French performer born in America, was a French resistance operative and a civil rights campaigner. Her performance in the silent film “Siren of the Tropics” in 1927 was historic since it marked the first time a black woman starred in a major motion picture. Her acting skills weren’t her only asset;
have been acknowledged by various prestigious prizes, including President Obama’s Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015. NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine named Katherine “an American hero” after her death in February 2020. SOJOURNER TRUTH “If women want any rights more than they’ve got, why don’t they just take them and not be talking about it.” Sojourner Truth was an abolitionist and a woman’s rights campaigner. Despite being born into slavery, she fled with her little daughter in 1826. When she went to court in 1828 to reclaim her son, she became the first African American woman to win a court case against a white man.
she also supported the French Resistance during WWII, earning the title of Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur (a knight of the Legion of Honor). In the United States, she refused to play for segregated audiences, earning her notoriety in the Civil Rights Movement. While working with the Civil Rights Movement, Baker began adopting children of all nationalities and cultures. This dubbed her family “The Rainbow Tribe.” She had a total of 12 children, two girls and ten boys. WHY DO WE CELEBRATE WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH? We celebrate Women’s History Month to remind ourselves of the accomplishments of
“All my life, I have maintained that the people of the world can learn to live together in peace if they are not brought up in prejudice.”
– JOSEPHINE BAKER
Her most famous speech, “Ain’t I a Woman?” was delivered at the Ohio Women’s Rights Convention in 1851. Despite facing unspeakable atrocities and adversity throughout her life, her attempts to eliminate slavery and achieve women’s rights to provide the most meaningful life for her children demonstrate how strong and remarkable a woman she was.
women throughout the years in our culture and society. From science to politics, it is a chance to reflect on the trailblazing women who lead the way for change. There’s no doubt about it; women are a powerful force! Despite an extensive history of people belittling our ambitions, we’ve persevered to become politicians, lawyers, activists, teachers, and leaders in medicine. Let us raise a glass and toast to honor our women who have made great strides to better our lives.
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