Student Editor: Kiara Biroo ’21 Office of Intercultural Affairs March Issue Spring 2019

This Issue

Page 1: Women’s History Month

Page 2-4: Women Who Made A Difference

Page 5-6 : Cultural Page: Remembering the Queens

Page 7: Other Queens

Page 7: Upcoming Birthdays in March & April

Page 8: Food for Thought

Kiara Biroo ’21

Student Editor Voices Magazine Public Health & Political Science majors

Voices Magazine

Women in the United States fought for equal status with a major effort

occurring during the anti-slavery movement. During this movement,

women began to appear as public speakers, which challenged the social

customs during the 1800’s. The first woman known to speak at a public

forum was Maria W. Stewart, a woman of African heritage. Her agitation

urging free black men to stand up for their rights led to the colored men

conventions. By 1833, middle class women were joining the anti-slavery

movement with prominent groups being in Massachusetts, New York,

Pennsylvania and other sites. Stewart was prominent among such groups

that advocated for the establishment of strong, self-sufficient educational

and economic institutions within African American communities. In

particular, she called upon women to participate in all aspects of

community life. "How long," she asked, "shall the fair daughters of Africa

be compelled to bury their minds and talents beneath a load of iron pots

and kettles?"

Maria W. Stewart

Born: 1803, Hartford, CT

Died: December 17,

1879, Washington, D.C.

homeland, Afghanistan. She was shot by a gunman

who opposed her views.

A year after being shot, she published “I am Malala.”

She received the Nobel Peace Prize at age 17.

Emmeline Pankhurst was a leading woman of the

suffrage movement in one of the most effective

countries of protest during her time. She established

an important organization, the Women’s Social and

Political Union (WSPU), which was a leader in the

usage of the term, Woman Suffrage Movement.

Mary Wollstonecraft’s book, A Vindication of the

Rights of Women, was a feminist manifesto

published in 1792. She believed that the lack of

women’s education was used as the justification of

the supposed inferiority of women.

Women Who Made A

Difference

Dorothy Vaughan was a figurehead for women

whose accomplishments were not celebrated for the

level of achievement that was of international

contribution. She was the head of the National

Advisory Committee for Aeronautics’ (NACA’s)

segregated West Area Computing Unit from 1949

until 1958. Her mathematical genius made it

possible for the devotion to space travel. We

applaud her for her gift to humanity.

https://www.nasa.gov/content/dorothy-vaughan-biography

Malala Yousafzai

Malala Yousafzai became a voice to young women to

stand up against terrorist attacks when many were

afraid to do so. She spread the courage through her

truth and beliefs that guided her to become an

activist for girl’s rights to receive education in her

Dorothy Vaughan

Emmeline Pankhurst

Mary Wollstonecraft

Lucretia Mott, a Quaker, was perhaps the most

important leader of women’s suffrage. She combined

her suffrage advocacy with her strong-willed

agitation for the ending of slavery. She was the only

woman allowed to participate in the Pennsylvania

meeting in 1833 that led to the founding of the

American Anti-Slavery Society. Years later, Mott

helped to orchestrate the first women’s rights

convention at Seneca Falls from which emerged the

Declaration of Sentiments. She was also among the

leaders who established Swarthmore College (PA) as

a coeducational institution.

https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/

biographies/lucretia-mott

Monument to Suffrage Pioneers Lucretia Mott

and others in the Capitol Rotunda

Sojourner Truth was one of the leading personalities

of the anti-slavery movement within the United

States as well as a leading advocate for the women’s

suffrage movement. She was born Isabella Baumfree

in 1797 to enslaved parents in Ulster County, New

York. She experienced extreme cruelty during her

enslavement and did not gain her freedom until

slavery ended in New York in 1827. She gave a

speech in 1851 at the Ohio Women’s Right

Convention that propelled her to fame. In the speech,

she used the rhetorical question, “Ain’t I A Woman?”

She was quite active, similar to Harriet Tubman, in

the recruitment of soldiers for the Union Army

during the Civil War. Today she is heralded as one of

America’s greatest heroines.

https://www/history.com/topics/black-hisory/sojouner-truth

Unveiling of the Sojourner Truth Bust in the Capitol

Sojourner Truth Lucretia Mott

Editor’s Note: As a young woman growing up in

Saint Lucia, these women below allowed me to feel

confident to strive for my goals. They encouraged

me to think beyond the ordinary. They made me

feel like I can become someone who can influence

achievement in my country.

Pearlette Louisy was the first woman to be the

Governor General of Saint Lucia from September

1997 to December 2017. She is admired by all

citizens of Saint Lucia and particularly by young

women, as an inspiration for the advancement of

education achievement. Louisy spent most of her

professional life in the teaching profession,

particularly from the late 1960s through the

1980s. She later served as the first Dean of Sir

Arthur Lewis Community College, then as Vice

Principal and Principal.

Sesenne Descarte

was bestowed with

“The Honour of the

Dame Commander

of the Order of the

British Empire DBE

for her contribution

to Folk culture and

community service,

on the occasion of the observance of the 21st

Anniversary of St. Lucia Independence.

"We are not just here to recognize her

melodious voice, her capacity, her love to sing,

but we are here with her to allow our spirits to

rise with her, to find expression in all the beauty

which she has given our life, and our country.

But there is something that I think we need to

focus on. Sesenne's contribution is really

extraordinary because she has helped each and

every one of us to discover ourselves to hold on

to what has made us, to reach in the deepest

recesses our souls," Honorable Dr. Kenny

Anthony.

www.govt.lc/news/sesenne-receives-her-rightful-honour

Belle Vue crowned it La Jeuness Kweyol and Choiseul

crowned it Miss La Wenn Kweyol

Dame Pearlette Louisy

Sesenne Descarte

(Queen of Culture)

The Cultural Page

“Queen Aminatu, daughter of Bakwa Turunku, was a great Hausa warrior who inherited her mother’s strong warlike nature. Her mother built the capital of Zazzau, which formed part of the seven original states of Hausaland in the 16th century. Aminatu was just 16 years old when her mother became queen and she was given the traditional title of magajiya. Amina chose to hone her military skills and became one of the greatest warriors of Zazzau. She is credited as the architect of fortified walls in Hausaland, and as a warrior, she is known for her smart tactics as she increased the borders of Zazzau, ensuring that the kingdom became the center of the North-South Saharan trade and East-West Sudan trade. Her career as a warrior princess spanned over three decades and she is celebrated in song as “Amina daughter of Nikatau, a woman as capable as a man.”

https://www.africa.com/great-ancient-african-queens/

Makeda Queen of Sheba

Queen Nefertiti

Queen Ranavalona the First of

Madagascar

Queen Nandi of the Zulu Kingdom

Queen Cleopatra of Egypt

Queen Hatshepsut

“Long before Cleopatra reigned over Egypt,

another woman held the reins of power:

Hatshepsut. We know her mainly through the

major temple built in her honor, which her

successor and stepson defaced to try to erase

her reign from memory.”

Ask Fefin

Question: Why is women’s history

important?

Answer: Ede nou aprann kiyès nou ye, men

lè nou pa konnen pwòp istwa nou,

pouvwa nou ak rèv nou yo.

Answer: It helps us know who we are by

knowing our power, and our story.

“Women’s History

Month is celebrated

at Hartwick because

for so long women

were left out of the

narrative of

American history.”

Harry Bradshaw Matthews

Associate Dean and Director

Office of Intercultural Affairs

https://www.africa.com/great-ancient-african-queens/

Upcoming Birthdays

in March & April

Cilina Jagrup

Born in America

Shania Bumbury

Born in America

Other Queens of the Ancient World

“Theodora, Empress of Byzantium from 527-548,

was probably the most influential and powerful

woman in the empire's history. Theodora had a real

effect on the political decisions of the empire to end

corruption, the rights of women in divorce and

property ownership. She forbid exposure of

unwanted infants, gave mothers some guardianship

rights over their children, and forbid the killing of a

wife who committed adultery.”

https://www.thoughtco.com/empress-theodora-facts-

3529665

Suiko is the first empress in recorded history to rule

Japan. During her reign, Buddhism was officially

promoted, Chinese and Korean influence increased,

and, according to tradition, a 17-article constitution

was adopted.

https://www.thoughtco.com/powerful-women-rulers-

everyone-should-know-3530278

Makeda Braimbridge

Born in Jamaica

Empress Theodora

Empress Suiko

“Women in Ancient Egypt had a status that may seem surprisingly modern when compared to the

status women occupied in the majority of contemporary societies. Although men and women had

traditionally distinct powers in society, it seems that there was no insurmountable barrier in front

of those who wanted to deviate from this pattern. Egyptian society recognized women not as equal

to men, but as having an essential complementarity, expressed especially in the action of

producing children. This respect is expressed clearly in the Ancient Egyptian theology and

morality, but it is certainly quite difficult to determine the extent of its application in the daily life

of Egyptians. However, it was far different from the society of Ancient Greece where women were

considered eternal legal minors.

Compared with their counterparts in ancient Greece, Rome, and even more modern places around

the world, ancient Egyptian women had a greater range of personal choices and opportunities for

achievement. Women such as Hatshepsut and Cleopatra VI even became pharaohs, while others

wielded power as Divine Wives of Amun. Despite these freedoms, ancient Egyptian women did

not often take part in official roles in the administration, served only secondary roles in the

temples, and were not as likely to be as educated as men.”

www.crystalinks.com/egyptianwomen.html

Voices Magazine

Office of Intercultural Affairs

Hartwick College

Oneonta, New York 13820

www.hartwick.edu