A Look at Women’s History Month

The Women Who Made a Difference

By Matt D’Silva

Women for a long time have been the unsung heroes, often overlooked in history for their monumental efforts they contribute to society and the community as a whole. Finally there is an entire month dedicated to the work of these amazing individuals and there is no better time to do some research and learn about the women who have made a difference.

Think about the work that the women of your life have done, often without complaint. The work as mother, primary caregiver of family and friends, sometimes sole parent in a single income family, sister, grandmother, aunt or friend, this is often while trying to balance numerous priorities and manage a job. Obviously this is not the case for everyone, but there is a lot of support, nurturing and unpaid work that women complete on a regular basis out of kindness and love and it is about time we celebrate women for their ongoing contribution to society.

Embracing the month long celebrations a number of institutions are also taken up the initiative to highlight the work of a number of incredible women. The Library of Congress, National Archives, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum all celebrate the month of March as Women’s History Month.

Women’s History Month first started in the early 1980s as a way to acknowledge the work that women contribute and have helped shape the world we live. It quickly grew with proclamations from sitting Presidents each year since and with nation wide celebrations.

There are so many unsung heroes that have contributed to society and their story needs to be told and that is the importance of Women’s History Month.

An example is Claudia Jones is one of the intellectual of the 20th century know to be one of the most influential African American radicals and feminists and a strong writer who is known for her groundbreaking article “An End to the Neglect of the Problems of the Negro Woman”.

Did you know about Maggie Lena Walker? Maggie was best known as the first female African American bank president in the United States. She organized and founded St. Luke’s Savings Bank in 1903. At it’s peak the bank was the largest employer in the country of professional, African American women. Walker is also known as the crusader for black economics and political rights.

One of my favorite unsung heroes is Jane Cooke Wright. Wright was one of the cancer researchers to discover chemotherapy. She was the daughter and granddaughter of African American physicians and helped found the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Wright was also appointed associate dean and head of the Cancer Chemotherapy Department at the New York Medical College and was the highest ranked woman physician at the time.

During these unsettling times and if you need something uplifting and positive. Do some research into Woman’s History Month, as it is really fascinating to read about the influential and strong women who contributed to society for the better and so many of them need their stories told.

One of the best places to start is the Woman’s History Month website womenshistorymonth.gov

LISTEN TO THE FOR US WOMEN SPOTIFY PLAYLIST: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3Xd4g81XjoWRp7AMbc1bwn?si=IgKxbbFZSB2nyVS0XK8eHA