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Ida B. Wells: The Relentless Advocate Against Injustice
Ida B. Wells was born into slavery in Mississippi in 1862, but her life became a powerful story of resilience and action. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Wells took on the dangerous task of documenting lynchings and racial violence in the South. She was one of the founders of the NAACP, though her name is often left out of the mainstream narrative. Wells traveled across the U.S. and even to the UK, speaking out against racial injustice and urging political leaders to push for anti-lynching legislation. Her investigative journalism, including the iconic pamphlet “Southern Horrors,” laid the groundwork for future civil rights activism. Wells faced constant threats to her life, but she never stopped fighting for change. In 2020, she was posthumously awarded a Pulitzer Prize for her courageous reporting, reminding us of her enduring impact. Her work still resonates today as hate crimes continue to make headlines.
Jeannette Rankin: The First Woman in Congress
Jeannette Rankin made history in 1916 as the first woman ever elected to the U.S. Congress, four years before women nationwide gained the right to vote. Representing Montana, she was a trailblazer not just for her gender but for her outspoken pacifism. Rankin was one of the few members of Congress to vote against entering both World War I and II, decisions that brought her both respect and criticism. Her stance on peace was so strong that she once said, “You can no more win a war than you can win an earthquake.” Despite her significant achievements, Rankin is frequently overshadowed by later female politicians. She inspired generations to stand up for their convictions, even when facing overwhelming opposition. Her legacy can be seen in the modern peace movement and in the growing number of women in Congress today.
Shirley Chisholm: Unbought, Unbossed, and Unstoppable
Shirley Chisholm broke barriers as the first Black woman elected to Congress in 1968, representing New York. She didn’t stop there; in 1972, she became the first Black candidate for a major party’s presidential nomination and the first woman to run for the Democratic Party’s presidential ticket. Chisholm was known for her bold slogan, “Unbought and Unbossed,” and she lived up to it by championing minority rights, education, and social justice. She faced relentless discrimination and even threats, but she never backed down. Chisholm pushed for legislation on food security, child welfare, and the minimum wage, laying a foundation for future reforms. According to the U.S. House of Representatives, Chisholm introduced more than 50 pieces of legislation during her tenure. Her run for president inspired women and people of color to dream bigger and demand a seat at the table.
Patsy Mink: Champion of Title IX and Educational Equality
Patsy Mink was the first woman of color and the first Asian American woman elected to Congress, representing Hawaii starting in 1965. Mink’s most defining legacy is her leadership in co-authoring Title IX, the landmark 1972 law that prohibits gender discrimination in federally funded educational programs. Thanks to Title IX, millions of girls and women have had access to sports and educational opportunities that were previously off-limits. Mink also fought for civil rights, affordable childcare, and environmental protections. Despite her groundbreaking achievements, many Americans don’t know her name. In 2022, the 50th anniversary of Title IX, the law was renamed the Patsy T. Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act, a long-overdue recognition of her contributions. Her determination opened countless doors for future generations of girls.
Barbara Jordan: The Voice of Conscience During Watergate
Barbara Jordan, born in 1936 in Houston, became the first Southern African American woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1972. Jordan’s electrifying speech during the 1974 Watergate hearings riveted the nation and is still studied in schools today. She spoke with powerful conviction on the Constitution and the importance of justice, famously stating, “My faith in the Constitution is whole; it is complete; it is total.” Jordan was a leading voice for civil rights, disability rights, and fair immigration policy. Despite multiple sclerosis confining her to a wheelchair, she continued to inspire through her teaching and public speaking after leaving Congress. In 1994, President Clinton awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Jordan’s fierce integrity and eloquence made her a moral compass during a turbulent time in U.S. politics.
Fannie Lou Hamer: The Heart and Soul of the Voting Rights Movement
Fannie Lou Hamer grew up in the Mississippi Delta, the youngest of 20 children in a family of sharecroppers. She became one of the most prominent leaders of the civil rights movement, tirelessly advocating for voting rights in the 1960s. Hamer co-founded the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party to challenge the all-white Democratic delegation at the 1964 Democratic National Convention. Her televised testimony about being beaten and threatened simply for trying to vote stunned viewers and exposed the brutal reality of segregation. Hamer’s iconic words, “I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired,” became a rallying cry for activism. Despite her pivotal role, Hamer’s contributions are often overshadowed in history books. Her courage paved the way for the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and inspired activists far beyond her home state.
Margaret Chase Smith: The Senator Who Stood Up to McCarthy
Margaret Chase Smith made history as the first woman to serve in both the U.S. House and Senate, representing Maine for over three decades. In 1950, during the height of the anti-communist hysteria, she delivered her famous “Declaration of Conscience” speech on the Senate floor. Smith condemned Senator Joseph McCarthy’s tactics, warning of “the Four Horsemen of Calumny—Fear, Ignorance, Bigotry, and Smear.” Her boldness earned her respect across party lines, but also political enemies. Smith later became the first woman to have her name placed in nomination for the presidency by a major party at the 1964 Republican National Convention. She was known for her independence, voting her conscience even when it meant breaking with her party. Smith’s fearlessness helped set a standard for ethical leadership in Congress.
Victoria Woodhull: The First Woman to Run for President
Victoria Woodhull was a true iconoclast of the 19th century. In 1872, nearly 50 years before women could legally vote nationwide, Woodhull became the first woman to run for President of the United States. She ran as the candidate of the Equal Rights Party, advocating for women’s suffrage, labor reforms, and free love—a shocking platform for her era. Woodhull was also the first woman to own a Wall Street brokerage firm and to publish a weekly newspaper. Her activism brought her into constant conflict with authorities, and she was even arrested on obscenity charges the night before the election. Woodhull’s boldness paved the way for future generations of women in politics, though her name is rarely mentioned in history classes.
Crystal Eastman: Architect of Civil Liberties and Women’s Rights
Crystal Eastman was a lawyer, journalist, and radical reformer whose fingerprints are on some of the most important social changes of the 20th century. She co-wrote the original Equal Rights Amendment in 1923 and helped found the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). Eastman was also a key organizer for the National Woman’s Party. Her activism extended to workers’ rights and peace advocacy during and after World War I. Eastman’s vision for a more just society influenced everything from labor protections to gender equality. Despite her visionary work, Eastman is often overlooked in mainstream accounts of American history. Her legacy lives on every time someone invokes the rights protected by the ACLU or pushes for an Equal Rights Amendment.
Carol Moseley Braun: Breaking the Senate’s Glass Ceiling
Carol Moseley Braun made headlines in 1992 when she became the first Black woman elected to the U.S. Senate, representing Illinois. Her election shattered a 200-year barrier and brought new perspectives to national debates. Moseley Braun championed civil rights, education reform, and environmental protection. She was the only female senator during her first year in office and faced both subtle and overt discrimination from colleagues. Despite these challenges, she pushed through legislation to protect historic Black sites and advocated for women’s issues. Moseley Braun’s historic victory inspired more women of color to seek public office. In 2020, a record-breaking number of women and minorities were elected to Congress, a testament to her trailblazing influence.
Lucretia Mott: The Quiet Power Behind the Women’s Rights Movement
Lucretia Mott was a Quaker minister and abolitionist whose tireless activism helped spark the women’s rights movement in the United States. In 1848, she co-organized the Seneca Falls Convention, the country’s first women’s rights convention, alongside Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Mott’s ability to unite people across different movements—abolition, suffrage, and pacifism—made her a central figure in 19th-century reform. She traveled the country giving speeches, despite facing constant heckling and threats. Mott’s influence helped shape the Declaration of Sentiments, which demanded equal rights for women. Though she never saw the passage of the 19th Amendment, her work inspired generations of activists who eventually secured women’s right to vote. Mott’s quiet strength was a driving force behind one of America’s most significant social changes.
Mary Church Terrell: Crusader for Racial and Gender Justice
Mary Church Terrell was one of the first Black women to earn a college degree in the United States, graduating from Oberlin College in 1884. She became a prominent suffragist and civil rights activist, co-founding the National Association of Colored Women (NACW) and serving as its first president. Terrell fought tirelessly for Black women’s right to vote and for desegregation in public spaces. In 1953, at the age of 89, she was still leading protests and legal battles against segregation in Washington, D.C., which culminated in a Supreme Court decision ending segregation in D.C. restaurants. Terrell’s approach combined intellectual rigor with grassroots activism. Her legacy can be seen in the ongoing fight for intersectional justice and equal rights for all Americans.
Bella Abzug: The Unapologetic Voice for Women’s Equality
Bella Abzug, known for her trademark wide-brimmed hats and booming voice, was a force of nature in Congress during the 1970s. She co-founded the National Women’s Political Caucus and helped push the Equal Rights Amendment through the House of Representatives. Abzug was also a leading advocate for LGBT rights, environmental protection, and ending the Vietnam War. She once declared, “This woman’s place is in the House—the House of Representatives!” Her fiery speeches and relentless advocacy made her both admired and feared. Abzug’s influence helped shift the national conversation toward full equality for women and marginalized groups, paving the way for future generations of political leaders.
Sojourner Truth: The Unstoppable Orator and Abolitionist
Sojourner Truth was born into slavery in New York but became one of America’s most powerful abolitionists and women’s rights advocates. Her 1851 speech, “Ain’t I a Woman?” delivered at the Women’s Convention in Akron, Ohio, challenged prevailing notions about race and gender. Truth spoke across the country, demanding equal rights and justice for all. Despite being illiterate, she won court cases and met with presidents to advocate for reform. Truth’s legacy endures as a symbol of resilience and courage in the face of overwhelming adversity. Statues and memorials now honor her, but her name still deserves greater recognition in classrooms and political conversations.
Besides founding Festivaltopia, Luca is the co founder of trib, an art and fashion collectiv you find on several regional events and online. Also he is part of the management board at HORiZONTE, a group travel provider in Germany.
