HERSTORY: REMEMBERING HEROINES OF BLACK HISTORY

We've come a long way since Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a bus. Women of color, however, still face unique challenges. Prejudice is real. Race still creates division around the globe, and America is not immune. But the strides we have made as a nation toward freedom, opportunity, and equality simply would not have been possible without some amazing black women. They made important progress at a time in history when women were facing severe gender inequality and when black women faced the additional challenge of racism.

Being a heroine does not mean being perfect. It means standing up in the face of adversity. It means not letting limitations define you. It means being determined and persevering in the face of obstacles and challenges. Here are just three of my favorite black heroines, two of whom are not particularly well-known but all of whom without a doubt have been influential in this nation. So I would like to acknowledge them in light of Black History Month.

Sojourner Truth (1797-1833) was born into slavery. She was bilingual, speaking both Dutch and English. After escaping from slavery, she became an outspoken abolitionist, advocating religious tolerance. She was one of the first-ever black women to win a court case against a white man, when she successfully sued for custody of her son Peter, who had been sold illegally. She was a published author and was perhaps best known for her speech "Ain't I a Woman?" where she argues for gender equality.

Edmonia Highgate (1844-1870) was an educator who traveled to the South during the Civil War to be a teacher. She was shot at, not once but twice. Opponents of black education threatened to set fire to the boarding house where she lodged. She refused to abandon her students. She fought tirelessly for civil rights and against segregated education.

Ida B. Wells (1862-1931) was an investigative journalist, suffragist, sociologist, and political activist who advocated for equal pay. She brought international attention to the lynchings going on in the South. When she was orphaned at 16, she dropped out of school to be a full-time teacher in order to support her five siblings so they wouldn't be separated.

Thanks to the power and fortitude of these amazing, human, imperfect, but stalwart ladies, women of all colors today have greater opportunities. When we acknowledge their contributions and celebrate their accomplishments, it reminds us that we as women can achieve great things.

Women's Federation for World Peace celebrates the unity and cooperation of women working together from diverse races, religions, and cultures. Rather than diminishing our differences, we honor and celebrate them.

Black women in this country, whether their background is African, Caribbean island, or Latin American, share a common experience. African-American women, whether they are light-skinned or dark, whether they live in the South or the North, share a common history. This month is a celebration of the history, accomplishments, and achievements of black Americans, and it is an opportunity for all of us, whether male or female, black or white, to celebrate them and learn from them. The often painful path they walked helped create liberty in this nation.