Shirley Chisholm

Shirley Chisholm

Shirley Chisholm is most known for being the first African American woman elected to congress as well as the first African American woman to run for President of the United States.  Early i her congressional career she was selected to serve on the House Agricultural Committee.  She was a representative of New York's 12th district (Manhattan) and felt it was a bad placement.   There she helped establish programs like WIC.  Later she was transferred to the Veteran's Affairs Committee, she thought this was a better fit seeing as she had more veterans in her district than agricultural laborers. She ran fro president in 1972. Her famous slogan was "Unbought and Unbossed" She always felt that was was discriminated against more for being a woman than for her race. She has paved the way for women and people of color making a positive impact in her wake.

The History Chicks Podcast:

http://thehistorychicks.com/episode-78-shirley-chisholm/

Ida B Wells

Ida B Wells was born into slavery a few months before the Emancipation Proclamation.  When both her parents and a sibling died of yellow fever, Ida took a job teaching at a segregated school to support herself and her other siblings.  One day while tracing by train she was asked to move to the smacking car even though she had a first class ticket.  She refused to move and was dragged off the train by several men.  She got a job as a reporter and wrote about lynchings and civil rights issues.  She was also invoked in the Suffrage movement, even participating in the 1917 Washington DC parade.  She was asked to march in the segregated section but snuck into another part of the parade. 

History Chicks Podcast

http://thehistorychicks.com/episode-84-ida-b-wells/

Ida also makes a brief appearance in the Iron Jawed Angels movie.

https://youtu.be/hOrD0tH_WaM

Nellie Bly

Nellie Bly

Nellie Bly was a journalist.  Her most famous piece was on how she went undercover at a mental institution to expose on her experience as a patient.  The other experience she is famous for is her trip around the world in 80 days.  She actually made it in 72. She also holds a few patients.

The History Chicks Podcast:
http://thehistorychicks.com/episode-20-nellie-bly/

Stuff you Missed in History Class Podcast:
https://www.missedinhistory.com/podcasts/nellie-bly-stunt-journalism.htm

Harriet Tubman

Happy Harriet Tubman day! Harriet Tubman was born into slavery in Maryland (yes in the north).  After her escape, she made many more trips to back to free others via the underground railroad. She also worked with the Union army as a spy and a nurse. She was also active in both civil rights and suffrage. There is a photograph of a young Harriet Tubman recently discovered.  She was one of the first women announced to be put on new redesigned U.S. currency.

Gal's Guide to the Galaxy:
https://galsguide.org/2017/07/07/harriet-tubman-your-gal-friday/

Susan B Anthony

Susan B Anthony

Susan was born a quaker.  She didn't meet her life long partner Elizabth Cady Staton until she was 31 at a abolitionist meeting. They spent 50 years each fighting for the right for women to vote. Elizabeth wrote all of her speeches and Susan traveled the country spreading the word about women's suffrage.

In 1872 she voted. She was arrested three weeks later for voter fraud, because women were not allowed to vote.  The police officer came to her home to arrest her, she demanded to be put in handcuffs just as a man would be (and for the publicity). They then traveled by public transportation to the station.  Susan declared that the officer would pay her fare.  During the trial the judge made a mistake by asking Susan if she had anything to say.

"Yes, your honor, but by forms of law all made by men, interpreted by men, administered by men, in favor of men, and against women; and hence, your honor's ordered verdict of guilty, against a United States citizen for the exercise of "that citizen's right to vote, simply because that citizen was a woman and not a man."

She was found guilty, and ordered to pay a $100 fine.  She stated that she would never pay it, and she never did.

Gal's Guide to the Galaxy:

https://galsguide.org/2017/08/04/susan-b-anthony-your-gal-friday/

PBS Not Ourselves Alone

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCl2BmbqCRM

Nevertheless She Persisted

Nevertheless She Persisted

Happy International Women's Day everyone!  The first Women's Day was celebrated in 1909 in New York City.  Since then many different countries held celebrations on various dates.  In 1977 the United Nations settled on the March 8th date. 

Do you know all the persistent ladies in this piece?  I will share their stories individually later. But first I'll tell you the story behind this piece.  

On Feburary 7th, 29017 during Alabama Senator Jeff Session's confirmation hearing to become Attorney General, Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts read a 1986 letter from Coretta Scott King (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's Wife) against Senator Jeff Session's nomination to become a federal judge previously.  While reading the letter she was interrupted by both the Senate Chair and Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky stating a rule that a senator cannot describe another senator in a way that is unbecoming of a senator.  She was asked to take her seat and was barred from speaking for the rest of the hearing.  Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon later finished reading Mrs. Kin's letter on the floor stating that it had already been in the 1986 Congressional record. Afterwards McConnell stated "Senator Warren was giving a lengthy speech. She had appeared to violate the rule. She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted."  

Gertrude Eredle

Gertrude Ederle

Gertrude Ederle was the first woman to swim the English Channel in 1926. During her famous swim the water became very rough and her coach yelled at her to get out of the water.  She replied, "What for?"  Not only was she the first woman to swim across the English Channel, she also set the world record at the time for doing so beating the previous time by about two hours.  People at that time thought no woman would ever be able to swim across the English Channel, only five men had been able to do so before her.

No Podcasts but I did find this video of vintage footge:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8PIVRsd3KE