Hello Meltingpot Readers,
Today is International Women’s Day and it’s Friday. Usually on Fridays I share some of my favorite things, so, in honor of women around the world, I thought I’d share five, historical, badass women of color who continue to inspire me with their passion, fierceness, bravery and spirit. I think once you know about them, they’ll inspire you as well.
Josephine Baker – Dancer, Singer, Spy
There is actually a chapter in my memoir called, Josephine Baker was my Hero. As a Black child growing up in Milwuakee, Wisconsin, surrounded by whiteness, Josephine Baker was my role model. Like her, I wanted to escape the United States, live in Europe and find wealth and fame as a performer. I even wanted to adopt a bunch of kids from different ethnic backgrounds. I did make it to Europe – Spain not France – but other than that I couldn’t measure up to La Baker. Not only was Josephine an accomplished performer, she was also a civil rights activist and decorated spy during WWII. Even though her life was filled with a lot of pain, she left her mark on the world as a beloved performer, mother, and activist.
Bessie Coleman – Stunt Pilot
Everybody knows Amelia Earhart’s name. Bessie Coleman, as the first Black woman to hold a pilot’s license in the country, should be equally recognized. Women weren’t allowed to fly in the United States when Bessie wanted to learn, so she had to learn French and go to France to get her training. She let neither racism nor sexism – of which there was plenty – stop her from chasing her dreams to be a pilot. Coleman spent the rest of her short life working as a stunt pilot, training and encouraging other Black people to learn how to fly and saving up money to buy her own airplane, which she eventually did.
Frida Kahlo – Artist + Free Spirit
Despite the fact that Frida Kahlo lived a life that could have been defined by pain, she will always be remembered as a woman who lived her life on her own terms. Frida never let her gender, race, nor her physical ailments get in the way of her personal and professional dreams. Frida was a dreamer, a romantic, an artist and a voracious lover of life.
Queen Nzinga – Warrior Queen
If you want to talk about a badass queen, warrior, politician and leader, then you have to talk about Nzinga Mbande. Her story is fascinating and too lengthy to summarize, but the main reason she should be a household name is that she successfully raged a 30-year war against the Portuguese to keep them from taking over her country, what is present-day Angola. She was still leading troops into battle in her sixties and managed to avoid capture by the Portuguese numerous times. She lived until she was in her 80s and died peacefully in her sleep.
Lozen – Warrior + Healer
I only recently learned of this Apache warrior after reading about her story in my daughter’s book, Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls. Once I learned about her though, I could not stop thinking about her. Lozen knew at an early age that she wanted to be a warrior and not be constrained to “womanly” roles. Her brother was a famous warrior and he taught Lozen all that he knew and the two of them fought many battles together. In addition to a warrior, Lozen was a healer and had spiritual gifts as well, all of which she used to help free her people from American attacks. She fought cunningly and skillfully until she died of tuberculosis after being captured and forcibly relocated to Alabama.
Who are the women who inspire you, dear readers? Leave me their names in the comments.
Peace!
