Did you know the month of March is Women's History Month? Here we are: March 30th and I really haven't seen this month celebrated properly. Selected by the National Women's History Project in honor of their 30th anniversary, the national theme is "Writing Women Back Into History." As stated on their website (http: //www.nwhp.org/whm/index.php). "It often seems as if history of women is written in invisible ink." If this is true of the history of women overall, then it should be no surprise that the history and accomplishments of African American women is pushed to the margins or in some cases absent all together.
This is so true. March somehow means this celebration focuses on every other woman, but black women are celebrated. I think too many people figure that we can only be acknowledged during Black History Month. The only women I hear about are Rosa Parks, Coretta Scott King, and maybe Madame CJ Walker, Sojourner Truth, Ida B. Wells or Phillis Wheatley. Sometimes Harriet Tubman or Dr. Dorothy Height.
My point is that black women have been and will continue to be the lifelines of our community. (Why do you think President Obama wants to make it easier for single moms to go back to school.) Our contributions seem to be taken for granted. During Black Hstory Month, we hear about what Black men have accomplished, but forget that black women helped build this nation, too. They took care of their children, served as domestic help, teachers, seamstresses, and didn't utter a complaint. They took pride in their work and still do. I'd like to learn and hear more about what our sisters, mothers, and grandmothers did. These women found ways to educate send their children to school with no money and a prayer. They found a way to make ends meet and have dreams come true. Sometimes at great personal sacrifice. Their contributions shouldn't be ignored.
Posted By: Marsha Jones
Tuesday, March 30th 2010 at 11:17AM
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