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African American Women Leaders D E R E A

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African American Women Leaders D E R E A BECAUSE OF HER, I AM African American Women Leaders D E R E A . I L A A M African American Women Leaders M A A L I E A . D R E E 03 — Women Lead The Way To Success R D . A I E A L N 04 — Activist Leaders A Table of Contents 10 — Writer Leaders 16 — Politician Leaders 22 — Sports Leaders 28 — Artist Leaders 34 — United States Military Leaders 40 — STEM Leaders 46 — Women and Girl Themed Children's Books 49 — Readers are Leaders 50 — Journal Prompts 51 — MCCRI Social Media Links 52 — Mentor with MCCRI 53 — Sign up for Summer Learning D E R E A . I L A WOMEN LEAD THE A M A M A L E I A . D R WAY TO SUCCESS E E R D . A I E A L M The Journey Continues A Over the years African American women have fought to earn their rights to vote, work, and create in their area of choice. Leaders such as Vice President Kamala Harris and Stacey Abrams have opened the door for many other young girls and women to step into new roles of leadership . Join the Morehouse College Community Revitalization Initiative (MCCRI) as we take a look at 35 women who are breaking down barriers, creating historical firsts, and being advocates for the advancement of Black women in leadership. D E R E A . I L A A M A M A L E I A . D R E E R D . A I E A L M A ACTIVIST An activist is someone who is not willing to let a situation go unnoticed. They are individuals who feel so passionately about a topic that they are determined to learn more, to raise awareness among others, and to bring about change for the community. Our first group of leaders made a decision to use their actions to create change. — 1 ELLA BAKER (1903-1986, NORFOLK, VIRGINIA) American human rights activist 1940 Ms. Baker began her involvement with the NAACP in 1940 and worked as a field secretary before serving as the director of branches from 1943 until 1946. In April 1960, Ella Baker was essential in organizing the founding conference of SNCC (Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee) at Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina. SNCC is a civil-rights group that was formed to give younger Black people more of a voice in the civil rights movement. A D E R E . I Daisy Bates L A A M M A (1914-1999, Huttig, Arkansas) A L I E A . D R E E R D . A I E L A M American journalist 1952 A Daisy Bates joined the civil rights movement and became the president of the Arkansas NAACP chapter in 1952. Ms. Bates was an American civil rights activist, publisher, journalist, and lecturer who played a leading role in the integration of schools in Little — 2 Rock, Arkansas in 1957. Coretta Scott King A D E R E . I (1927-2006, Heiberger, L A A M Alabama) M A A L I E A . D R E E R D . A I E L A M American activist 1955 A Coretta Scott had a life of her own before she married Martin Luther King, Jr, she was an activist and supported several women’s rights causes. Mrs. King traveled internationally, lecturing about racism and economic issues in the United States and abroad. She joined her husband in civil rights activism in the 1950s and '60s, taking part in the Montgomery bus boycott (1955) and efforts to pass the 1964 Civil Rights Act. — 3 "Women, if the soul of the nation is to be saved, I believe that you must become its soul" OPAL TOMETI PATRISSE CULLORS ALICIA GARZA (1984-PRESENT, (1984-PRESENT, LOS (1981-PRESENT, LOS PHOENIX, ARIZONA) ANGELES, CALIFORNIA) ANGELES, CALIFORNIA) American activist 2013 American activist 2013 American activist 2013 Co-creator of #BlackLivesMatter and Co-creator of #BlackLivesMatter Co-creator of #BlackLivesMatter the Black Lives Matter Global Network and the Black Lives Matter Global and the Black Lives Matter Global (2013). As an organizer, Opal has spent eight years as Executive Network (2013). An advocate for Network (2013). Leading multiple Director at the Black Alliance for Just the voiceless, Patrisse is the organizations, Alicia is the Principal Immigration (BAJI), an organization that founder of Dignity and Power Now, of Black Futures Lab. Her organizing educates and engages African an organization that supports brings together culture change and American and black immigrant criminal justice reform. policy change communities. — 4 Yara Shahidi (2000-present, Minneapolis, Minnesota) American actress 2017 Yara is best known for her roles on the television series ‘Black-ish and Grown-ish. Among her generation, Shahidi is also known as an activist for feminism and STEM awareness. In 2017 she founded We Vote Next.us, a creative platform informing youth on voter education. She also created awareness around the 2020 presidential election with — 5 her Instagram digital series, "The Clock Is Ticking." D E R E A . I L A A M A M A L E I A . D R E E R D . A I E A L M A WRITERS Writing, as a form of communication, is one of many important tools that leaders use. Anytime you watch a television program, read a book or see someone giving a speech, the words that you see and hear must be written down first. The leaders in this section used their words to speak about African American life and the culture that lives within. Ida B. Wells-Barnett (1862-1931, Holly Springs, Mississippi American journalist 1891 In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Ida was a prominent journalist, activist, and researcher. In — 6 her lifetime, she battled sexism, racism, and violence. As a skilled writer, Ms. Wells-Barnett also used her skills as a journalist to shed light on the conditions of African Americans throughout the South. In 1891, she wrote newspaper articles about improving education for African American children. Audre Lorde D E R E A . I L A (1934-1992, Harlem, New York) A M A M A L E I A . D R E E R D . A I E A L M American writer 1968 A Audre Lorde dedicated both her life and her creative talent to confronting and addressing the injustices of racism, sexism, and classism. In 1968 she began writing poetry about her personal experiences in the LGBTQ+ community and other social injustices, using her voice to bring awareness to the Black female identity. “When I dare to be powerful—to use my strength in the service of my vision— then it becomes less and less — 7 important whether I am afraid." Jo-Issa Rae Diop D E R E A . I (1985-present, Los Angeles, L A A M A California) M A L E I A . D R E E R D . A I E A L M American writer 2011 A As a writer, producer, and actress Jo-Issa Rae began her career creating a web series titled, Awkward Black Girl in 2011. Her career continues in 2021 with the successful series Insecure on HBO and the development of other production companies. Through Issa’s work, she encourages her viewers to be proud of their differences and diversity. "I thrive on obstacles. If I'm told that it can't — 8 be done, then I push harder." LENA WAITHE — 9 (1984-PRESENT, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS) American screenwriter 2017 As a screenwriter, producer, and actress, Lena's work breaks barriers for the LGBTQ+ community. She became the first Black woman to win the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series in 2017. Her production company Hillman Grad creates art through storytelling and gives voice to a diverse audience. “The only way you really see change is by helping to create it.” Amanda Gorman D E R E A . I (1998-present, Los L A A M A Angeles, California) M A L E I A . D R E E R D . A I E A L M American poet 2021 A As a young girl, Amanda overcame a speech impediment and used poetry to express herself creatively. Amanda’s work focuses on issues of oppression, feminism, race, as well as the African diaspora. Gorman was the first person to be named National Youth Poet Laureate. She performed her poem, "The Hill We Climb," at the 2021 presidential inauguration. “Poetry and art in general means showing up with your best self, — 10 whoever that may be, and that in itself is beautiful.” D E R E A . I L A A M A M A L E I A . D R E E R D . A I E A L M A POLITICIANS Being a politician allows an individual to propose, support, and create laws or policies that govern the land and its people. Our next group of leaders began their path to congress and local government with an awareness of the social issues that they saw in their communities. Their representation helped to lead others in the direction of hope and equality. SHIRLEY CHISHOR T SL— M A E L A (1924-2005, BROOKLYN, NEAW YORKS ) U T S S I I American congresswoman 1968 V D E Y L E The daughter of Caribbean immigrants, ShirleyM Anita Chisholm was an American A E R D N A I C N A politician, educator, and author. Her advocacy for woG men, minorities, and against racial and gender inequality encouraged her to begin a career in politics.
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