There are many days on which we honor men, but precious few that recognize women’s contributions.
Women’s History Month concluded Tuesday, March 31, but I must share a bit of Mayor Johnny Ford’s work honoring the history of Black women through his organization, the World Conference of Mayors.
I pray that you will share it with your families — especially your children. I ask since it seems popular to harm my sisters through government layoffs, firings and disrespect in many forms.
I share this because of what some of our sisters have gone through, and what many are still going through. Black women go through more hardship than anybody in our nation. Some have been used and abused precisely because they are leaders.
We are the highest educated, hardest working and most active in public service in our communities — often neglecting ourselves so that we have more time and resources to help others.
We all know Black women who go without food so there is food for their children. It’s not right, but it’s real. So in case you didn’t know, let’s look at a bit of the history of what Black women are doing and have done for the world.
We thank Mayor Ford and his members for honoring us. Please share this article with as many people as you can — show Black women you notice their accomplishments and appreciate their sacrifices.
Ford, a former Tuskegee, Alabama, mayor and Alabama state representative, current Tuskegee council member and founder of the World Conference of Mayors, put forth this resolution to his organization:
WHEREAS, March is set aside as Women’s History Month to honor the numerous contributions of women to our nation and the world;
WHEREAS, women’s history is honored throughout the world, we hold special celebrations to acknowledge women here at home;
WHEREAS, Fannie Lou Hamer suffered greatly to gain voting rights for Black Americans;
WHEREAS, Rosa Parks risked her life when she refused to give up her seat to a white passenger, sparking the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the legal fight to desegregate public transit;
WHEREAS, Diane Nash, co-founder of SNCC, organized students to travel to the dangerous South on buses during the Freedom Rides;
WHEREAS, Dr. Patricia Bath, a pioneering ophthalmologist, invented a laser device for cataract treatment;
WHEREAS, Dr. Gladys West, a mathematician, did work in satellite geodesy that was fundamental to the development of GPS technology;
WHEREAS, Mae Jemison, an engineer, physician and former astronaut, was the first African American woman to travel to space;
WHEREAS, Dorothy Vaughan, Katherine Johnson and Mary Jackson served as human computers at NASA during some of the greatest strides in space exploration;
WHEREAS, Sojourner Truth was the first Black person to sue a white man who had taken her son into slavery — and she won;
WHEREAS, Harriet Tubman was a renowned abolitionist and armed scout for the Union Army, known as the most famous conductor on the Underground Railroad;
WHEREAS, Ketanji Brown Jackson is the first Black woman to serve as a Supreme Court justice;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT we honor all women who continue to work to make America great for all.
We thank Mayor Ford and want him to know: We are together, and we are up to the challenge.
E. Faye Williams is president of The Dick Gregory Society (www.thedickgregorysociety.org).