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

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03 — Women Lead The Way To Success R

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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American congresswoman 1968 V D

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The daughter of Caribbean immigrants, ShirleyM Anita Chisholm was an American A

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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. In 1968, she became the first Black woman elected to the United States Congress, representing New York's 12th congressional district for seven terms from 1969 to 1983. Ms. Chisholm also ran for president in 1972. “At present, our country needs -11 women’s idealism and determination, perhaps more in politics than anywhere else.” Barbara Lee

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American congresswoman 1972 I

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Barbara Lee is an American congresswoman whose service is dedicated to public safety, education, healthcare, and environmental protections. She is co-chair of the House Democratic Leadership Team and founded the Community Health Alliance for Neighborhood Growth and Education (CHANGE, Inc.). In 1972, Ms. Lee worked on Congresswoman Chisholm’s historic presidential — 12 campaign, including serving as her delegate at the Democratic National Convention. Kamala D. Harris D E R E A . I (1964-present, Oakland, L A A M

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E A L M Vice President of The United A States of America 2017

Kamala Devi Harris is an American politician and attorney. She began serving in the U.S. Senate in 2017. In 2021, Kamala became the 49th vice president of the United States. She is the United States' first female vice president, the highest-ranking female elected official in U.S. history, and the first African American and first Asian American -13 vice president. Keisha Lance D E R E A . I L A A M

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Mayor of Atlanta 2018

Keisha Lance Bottoms is an American politician and lawyer who is the 60th and current mayor of Atlanta, Georgia. She served as a judge and city council member representing southwest Atlanta before being sworn in as mayor in 2018. Raised in Atlanta and nominated as 2020 Georgian of the year, Mayor Bottoms is committed to the growth and safety of all Atlanta -14 residents. Stacey Abrams (1973-present, Madison, Wisconsin)

American politician 2018

Former Georgia House Democratic Leader, Stacey Abrams is an advocate for change. In 2018, Abrams became the Democratic nominee for Governor of Georgia, winning at the time more votes than any other Democrat in the state’s history. Through her organization, Fair Fight, she helps every American to use their 5 1

voice through voter education. Stacey is also an activist and novelist and is — currently nominated for the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize. A D E R E . I L A A M

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L A M A SPORTS

Athletics has been a source of health and wellness, recreation and opportunity for Black women. Historically, black women in sports faced double discrimination due to their gender and race. Several African American female athletes have emerged as trailblazers in their sports of choice over the years. From track and field and tennis to gymnastics and coaching teams for the NBA and WNBA, the struggles and hard- won glory of our next group of leaders prove how sweat and ambition help us to succeed. D E R Althea Gibson E A . I L A A M

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American Tennis Player 1950

Althea Gibson developed a love of tennis at an early age, but in the 1940s and '50s, most tournaments were closed to African Americans. By following her passion and breaking racial barriers, Ms. Gibson was a champion of many firsts in the sport. She was the first African American tennis player to compete at the U.S. National Championships in 1950 and the first Black player to compete at — 16 Wimbledon in 1951. Wilma Rudolph (1940-1994, Clarksville, Tennessee)

American Track and Field Athlete 1960

Wilma Rudolph was a reigning champion in the realm of track and field. Stricken by polio as a young girl, Rudolph regained her strength and went on to win three gold medals (in the 100- and 200-meter dash and 400-

7 meter relay) at the 1960 Olympics. She 1

was the first American woman to win

— those gold medals, and in 1961 she became the first black woman to win the James E. Sullivan Award, America’s highest honor in amateur athletics Bernadette Mattox D E R E A . I (1958- Present, Rockwood, L A A M

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American Basketball Coach A 1995

Bernadette Mattox has achieved a trifecta in trailblazing. She was Georgia's first female athlete to earn All-American and Academic All- American honors. She made NCAA history when she became the first female to serve as a Division I assistant coach for a men's team. In 1995, she became the first African American to coach Kentucky women's basketball. She also became the first African American to coach women's basketball — 18 in the Southeastern Conference. Violet Palmer ( 1964- Present, Compton, CA)

American Basketball Referee 1997

On October 31, 1997, as the Vancouver Grizzlies and the Dallas Mavericks took the floor, Violet Palmer became the first woman to officiate for an NBA basketball game and later in the WNBA. Violet is also the first female official to reach the highest competitive

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sports league. She also earned

— recognition as a member of two NCAA Division II women's championship basketball teams. GABBY DOUGLASS (1995– PRESENT, VIRGINIA BEACH)

American Gymnast 2012 Gabby Douglas is an American gymnast who became the first African American in Olympic history to win the individual all-around event at the 2012 Summer Games. She also won team gold medals at the 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics. Douglas began formal gymnastics training at six years old and won a state championship by the time she was eight. In 2016, Gabby Douglas unveiled a Barbie "She-ro" doll just before the -20 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. A D E R E . I L A A M

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L A M A ARTISTS

Through paintings, photographs, or even fabrics, an artist can tell a story that is relatable to the person viewing their work. Up next, you will meet women who have led others to use their own creativity to deliver a message of strength, unity, and womanhood. CARRIE MAE WEEMS (1953-PRESENT, PORTLAND, OREGON)

Artist 1990 — 21 Carrie is an American artist and photographer known for creating artwork that combines photography, audio, and text to examine the differences of contemporary American life. Ms. Weems is most known for her photos of ‘The Kitchen Table’ series (1990), a collection of images that tell the story of a woman and mom. RUTH E. CARTER (1960-PRESENT, SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS) — 22 American costume designer 1992 Ruth has designed costumes for over 40 films. She has been nominated three times for the Academy Award for Best Costume Design for her work on Spike Lee's biographical film Malcolm X (1992) and Steven Spielberg's historical drama film Amistad (1997). Her most recent designs were used in Marvel’s Black Panther (2018) motion picture and Coming 2 America (2021). "BE A STUDENT OF YOUR PASSION." BISA BUTLER (1973-PRESENT, ORANGE, NEW JERSEY)

American fiber artist 2003 — 23 Bisa Butler is an American fiber artist known for her quilted portraits and designs celebrating black life. Butler first exhibited her quilts in 2003, and continued to make them during 13 years of teaching art in New Jersey high schools, showing mostly in galleries operated by friends or friends of friends. “My work proclaims that black people should be seen, regarded and treated as equals.” LINA IRIS VIKTOR (1987-PRESENT, UNITED KINGDOM)

British-Liberian visual artist 2014 — 24 Lina's paintings are based on ancient Egyptian and African symbolism. Each painting is molded in resin and then coated with 24 karat gold leaf and black paint. The gold refers to the “sacred notion of how ancient cultures used gold in ornaments”. Lina’s first exhibition was shown in 2014. AMY SHERALD (1973-PRESENT, COLUMBUS, GEORGIA)

American painter 2017 — 25 As a portrait artist, Amy was the first African American woman to complete a presidential portrait for the Smithsonian Institution's National Portrait Gallery. She is best known for painting the official portrait of former First Lady Michelle Obama (2017). A D E R E . I L A A M

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L A M A THE UNITED STATES MILITARY

Black women in the military often faced double discrimination due to their gender and race. These women worked on the front lines or provided support to U.S. soldiers and civilian employees during their time of enlistment. In this section of leaders, we highlight women who saw and seized opportunities where they could create or take on new positions of power and open doors for the future of Black women in the military. Harriet Tubman (c. March 1822 – March 10, 1913, Dorchester County, Maryland)

American Abolitionist 1863

Born as Araminta Ross, Harriet Tubman was known for leading enslaved people in the South to freedom up North as a conductor of the Underground Railroad. She also fought the institution of slavery as a soldier and spy for the Union Army during the Civil War. Tubman became the first woman to

7 lead an armed military operation in the

2 United States in what is known as the

Combahee Ferry Raid. More than 700 — enslaved people escaped slavery and made it onto the rescue boats that took them to freedom. MAJOR CHARITY ADAMS EARLEY (1918–2002, KITRELL, NORTH CAROLINA)

American commanding officer 1945 In March 1945, Major Earley was appointed the commanding officer of the first battalion of African American women, the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion. She led the first company of black — 26 Women’s Army Corps (WAC) ever to serve overseas. There, the women began to socialize with the citizens and broke through prejudices on both sides. Major Earley was put in charge of a postal directory service unit where they were responsible for the delivery of mail to over seven million soldiers during World War II. Another part of her job included raising the morale of women. Earley achieved this by creating beauty parlors for the women to relax and socialize in. MAJOR GENERAL MARCELITE J. HARRIS (1943-2018, HOUSTON, TEXAS)

American general officer, United States Air Force 1995 Major General Harris earned her rank in 1995, making her the highest-ranking female officer in the Air Force and the Nation’s highest-ranking African-American woman in the Department of — 28 Defense. Harris’s career included many “firsts”, including being the first female aircraft maintenance officer, one of the first two female air officers commanding at the United States Air Force Academy, and the Air Force’s first female Director of Maintenance. She served as a White House social aide during the Carter administration. Her service medals and decorations include the Bronze Star, the Presidential Unit Citation, and the Vietnam Service Medal. Michele Howard (1960- present, Riverside, California)

retired United States Admiral 2014

On July 1, 2014, Howard became the first woman promoted to the rank of 4- star Admiral in the U.S. Navy. That day she was also appointed the 38th Vice- chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), making her the second-highest-ranking

9 officer in the U.S. Navy. In 2016 she 2

became Commander of Naval Forces in

— Europe and Africa. The following year she retired from the navy. Nadja West D E R E A . I L A A M

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A trailblazer in leadership, Lieutenant General (ret) Nadja West became the 44th Army Surgeon General and the former Commanding General of US Army Medical Command (2015). She is the first African American woman 3-star General in the Army’s history, and currently the highest-ranking woman to ever graduate from the United States —30 Military Academy at West Point. A D E R E . I L A A M

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E L A M STEM A LEADERS

In 2021 we have integrated science, technology, engineering and math into our everyday lives in ways that our next group of leaders may have never dreamed of. How did that spaceship leave Earth? Who invented the toilet paper holder? Can a robot clean my room? These questions have been answered with the help of many STEM leaders; let’s meet a few of them. MARY KENNER (1912-2006, MONROE, NORTH CAROLINA)

— 31 American inventor 1950 Born into a familiy of inventors, Mary holds the highest number of patents of any African American woman. She is widely known for the creation of the sanitary belt and the toilet paper holder. MARY WINSTON JACKSON (1921-2005, HAMPTON, VIRGINIA)

American mathematician 1958 Mary Jackson worked at the Langley Research Center in — 32 Hampton, Virginia, as an aeronautical engineer and mathematician for the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA). After NACA became the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), she continued her work as an aeronautical engineer, retiring in 1985, after 34 years. — 33 A D E R E . I L A A M

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American engineer 1992

Mae Carol Jemison is an American engineer, physician, and former NASA astronaut. She became the first Black woman to travel into space when she served as a mission specialist aboard the space shuttle Endeavour (1992). — — 2

“You have the right to be involved. You have something important to contribute, and you have to take the risk to contribute it.” Ayanna Howard A D E R L E . I (1972-present, Altadena, A A M M A California) A

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American roboticist 1993 A

From 1993-2005, Dr. Howard worked at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory at the California Institute of Technology, where she was a Senior Robotics Researcher and Deputy Manager in the Office of the Chief Scientist. Recognized as one of 23 Most Powerful Women in Engineering by businessinsider.com, Ayanna Howard has worked for agencies such as NASA and the National Science Foundation. She is also a professor at Georgia — 34 Tech. — 35

Aisha Bowe (1988- present, Ann Arbor, Michigan)

Aerospace engineer 2008

“I spent time in the government working for NASA as a rocket scientist and I didn’t see people who looked like me...”

Motivated by a desire to increase Black representation in the tech space, Bowe founded STEMBoard (2008), a tech company that creates smart systems and solutions. A D E R E . I L A A M

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WOMEN AND GIRL- THEMED BOOKS D E R E A . I L A HIDDEN FIGURES A M A M

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Written by Margot Lee Shutterly and Winifred A

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AMELIA TO ZORA: TWENTY- SIX WOMEN WHO CHANGED THE WORLD Writen by Cynthia Chin-Lee

I LIKE MYSELF Writen by Karen Beaumont

RAD AMERICAN WOMEN A- Z: REBELS, TRAILBLAZERS, AND VISIONARIES Writen by Kate Schatz D E R E A . I L A RAD WOMEN WORLDWIDE A M A M

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REVOLUTIONARY POET: A STORY ABOUT PHILLIS WHEATLEY Writen by Maryann N. Weidt

GIRLS THINK OF EVERYTHING: STORIES OF INGENIOUS INVENTIONS BY WOMEN Writen by Catherine Thimmesh

YOU SHOULD MEET: MAE JEMISON Writen by Laurie Calkhoven A D E R E . I L A A M

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L A M A READERS ARE LEADERS

Every day a young scholar is being groomed to be the next leader. In addition to activists, writers, politicians, artists, leaders in STEM, etc., avid readers have the ability to lead with knowledge, critical thinking, and imagination. Readers also have good vocabulary and memory skills. Having these traits have helped the leaders on our list to achieve great success. How will you decide to lead? WRITE IT OUT

Journal Promts

What type of leader would you like to be?

What are the steps that you would take to become a leader? U S O N H S T O I C INSTAGRAM I W A

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