Celebrating Strength Over Fear this Women's History Month
This spring at YCV, we’ve been collecting feedback from our volunteers and partners to guide our future programming. We’ve heard, loud and clear, that people in NC want to protect the freedoms that our ancestors worked so hard to gain. Even as we’re in the midst of a contraction of our civil rights–including voting rights, immigration rights, women's rights, LGBTQIA+ rights, and many more–we must not let fear overshadow our strength.
We know that we are always stronger together. YCV envisions a representative democracy in our state that includes all voices. To make this vision a reality, we need to protect and expand access to the ballot through legislation such as the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.
Today, I invite you to be inspired by the strength of the Americans who gave so much of themselves to find a way to gain freedom for themselves, their children, and others in our country. This history cannot be erased, and we must know their stories to know how to fight for freedom in this moment.
In honor of Women’s History Month, here are a few stories of extraordinary women who fought for our rights:
Learn the stories of the women who organized the first American Women’s Rights Convention in Seneca Falls, New York, from July 19-20, 1848. For two days, convention members discussed and ultimately adopted a “Declaration of Sentiments,” which described the unjust and unequal treatment of women and presented twelve “resolutions” demanding legal and cultural reform. Click here to read more.
Learn the stories of the “Silent Sentinels” who peacefully protested outside the White House for months during World War I, and the stories of the 33 suffragists who were imprisoned and brutally beaten on the “Night of Terror.” Click here to read more.
Learn about the women’s suffrage movement here in NC and why the NC General Assembly did not ratify the Nineteenth Amendment until 1971. Click here to read more.
Learn about the history of the Equal Rights Amendment, which was initially passed by Congress in 1972 and remains unratified in North Carolina. Click here to read more.
For those who are Triangle-based, click here to learn about the history of women in Durham politics. For those based in other regions of NC, click here for a timeline of important moments in the history of women's rights across NC.
Finally, learn about the life of Pauli Murray, a champion of civil rights, women’s rights, labor rights, and LGBTQIA+ rights. Murray’s story was recently erased from the National Parks Service website as part of the federal government’s purge of DEI-related content. Click here to learn more about their life.