Women’s History Month 2020

Data News Weekly Staff Edited Report

It is truly historical times for women not just in America, but across the globe come together. The Me-Too era has made women’s voices and demands for equality and access to opportunities louder than ever.

Women not just in the U.S., but throughout world history have made contributions that not just benefited women, but us all. March is National Women’s History Month and we at Data News Weekly want to pay homage to the phenomenal woman not just in New Orleans, but around the world.

A Brief History of Women’s History Month
Women’s History Month is observed in the US, UK and Australia in March, and in October in Canada, it actually began as a single day called International Women’s Day on March 8th.

This day has been observed in some shape or form since 1911. It was officially commemorated by the United Nations in 1975 and was officially recognized by the UN two years later.

In the 1970’s, local groups and municipalities began celebrating Women’s History Week. According to the National Women’s History Museum, one of the most notable celebrations was organized in Santa Rosa, California, by the Education Task Force of the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women in 1978.

The movement was so popular, people began lobbying for a more formal observance, and in 1980, President Jimmy Carter designated the first official National Women’s History Week, beginning on March 8 of that year.

Schools, universities and local governments came to realize that this period of time allowed them to not only celebrate the achievements of women, but look critically at equality and opportunities for women, and educate people on women’s history. It was only a matter of time before the week became a month.

According to the National Women’s History Alliance, states began declaring the whole month of March as Women’s History Month all the way up until 1986, when a more national push finally made headway. The following year, Congress declared March 1987 as the first official Women’s History Month.

Quotes from Phenomenal Black Women in History
“Think like a queen. A queen is not afraid to fail. Failure is another steppingstone to greatness.” – Oprah Winfrey
“I am an example of what is possible when girls from the very beginning of their lives are loved and nurtured by people around them. I was surrounded by extraordinary women in my life who taught me about quiet strength and dignity.” – Michelle Obama
“I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be done does away with fear.” – Rosa Parks

“A wise woman wishes to be no one’s enemy; a wise woman refuses to be anyone’s victim.” – Maya Angelou

Captions: Oprah Winfrey Michelle Obama Rosa Parks Maya Angelou