As we close out one month of celebration we continue and celebrate another one, Women’s History Month!!
Women’s History Month runs from Friday, March 1, to Sunday, March 31.
Similar to Black History Month, Women’s History Month started out as a local celebration in Santa Rosa, California — Women’s History Week.
In 1980, the National Women’s History Project (now known as the National Women’s History Alliance) led a consortium of women’s groups and historians in their efforts to lobby for national recognition. By February of that year, President Jimmy Carter issued the first presidential proclamation declaring the week of March 8, 1980, as National Women’s History Week.
While International Women’s Day, held on March 8, came first, Women’s History Month serves as an extension of ongoing campaigning to achieve gender equalitythroughout our world.
Presidents after Carter continued this proclamation of National Women’s History Week in March, until Congress passed Public Law 100-9 in 1987 designating March as Women’s History Month.
Every year, the National Women’s History Alliance chooses a theme to celebrate Women’s History Month. This year’s theme is:
This year’s theme recognizes women throughout the country who understand that, for a positive future, we need to eliminate bias and discrimination entirely from our lives and institutions.
Women from every background have long realized that an uneven playing field will never bring equality or justice. Many feel the critical need to speak up and work harder for fairness in our institutions and social interactions.
From Mae Jemisin to Frida Kahlo to Ruth Bader Ginsburg a number of important women from history are celebrated during this month, as well as emerging figures in the female rights and gender equality space.
So if you are looking for more information and ways to celebrate make sure to visit: Womenshistorymonth.gov, NEA, National Women’s History Alliance, and Womenshistory.org
Black Future Feminist 