“The way to right wrongs is to shine the light of truth on them.”
— Ida B. Wells.
This year, the Shirley Bradley LeFlore Foundation is continuing its year-long celebration of womanhood by honoring Women’s History Month. The celebration of Women’s History Week began in 1978 and gained national recognition from President Jimmy Carter in 1980. In 1987, Congress officially designated March as Women’s History Month to recognize the contributions of women to American history. However, the representation of all women in this celebration has often been questioned.
White women face inequalities due to their gender, but Black women experience a deeper level of sexism because they also endure racial oppression. In American society, Black women are perceived as both a lesser gender and a lesser race. This combination of oppressions creates a distinct experience for Black women that is often overlooked during Women’s History Month celebrations.
As a result, Sha Battle, a programmer and entrepreneur from Georgia, has led a movement to establish April as International Black Women’s History Month. Many Black women, including myself, feel that while Black History Month is a commendable celebration, it falls short of acknowledging the significant contributions of Black women to global history. The same criticism applies to Women’s History Month.
While establishing a distinct celebration for Black women is commendable for the reasons mentioned, it may not be entirely necessary. As a Black woman, I recognize that we continually strive for our contributions to be acknowledged. However, I’ve noticed that in recent years, Women’s History Month has become more inclusive. Although I understand the inclination to create a separate month for us, I believe the solution lies in making Women’s History Month more inclusive by honoring the contributions of women from diverse backgrounds, including women of color and members of the LGBTQ community.
Shirley always championed the idea of inclusivity within womanhood. Although much of her work centered on Black women, and despite the historically complicated relationship between Black and White women, Shirley consistently built bridges in her poetry by highlighting common interests, experiences, and a shared desire for understanding and unity among all women. It is why her work is recognized by a multitude of multicultural poets and writers.
It is evident that we need to support Black representation in women’s movements and acknowledge the respect that Black women have long deserved. Inspired by Shirley’s legacy, the Shirley Bradley LeFlore Foundation is dedicated to fostering respect for Black women and ensuring inclusivity in all aspects of our society, especially during Women’s History Month.
Illustrator: Keith Henry Brown
