Fierce Femme Fatales of February
February is known as the month of love and the honoring of black history. Often times, women are overlooked in the grand scheme of history. So, this is an honoring of some of the most fabulous, fierce, and fascinating females of Western history.
Women began making a significant stand in history long before they attained the right to vote in 1920. Elizabeth Keckley was born a slave in 1818, but through the hard work of perfecting her seamstress skills, she bought her own freedom. She witnessed the freeing of her people in 1865 under President Abraham Lincoln. Keckley was also the personal modiste and trusted friend of the President's wife, Mary Todd Lincoln. But after she wrote a memoir of her life, Mary felt betrayed and cut all ties with her.
Only two years younger than Keckley, Susan B. Anthony, was born on February 15th of 1820. You may know her for her astounding work in the women’s suffrage movement. Along with her astounding work in helping to abolish slavery, she also founded the National Woman Suffrage Association along with Elizabeth Cady Stanton in 1868. She played a key role in the Married Women’s Property Act being passed. All of these things have made her an icon for Women’s rights and human equality.
Hattie Carraway was born after the abolishment of slavery, but just in time to see the fierce battle women had to fight for suffrage. She broke societal norms in 1932 by being the first woman elected to serve a full term as a United States Senator when she ran in Arkansas.
Breaking more societal norms, Elizabeth Blackwell of the United Kingdom, was not only the top of her class, but the first woman to receive a medical degree in the United States. Born on February 3rd, she was also the first woman on the UK Medical Register. She is an icon of female success and excellence, paving the way for many female intellectuals like herself.
Perhaps one of the most intellectual women of the civil rights movement, and yet the most misunderstood is Rosa Parks. Most history textbooks and childrens' books will recollect upon Rosa as a tired old woman who sat on the front of the bus out of exhaustion from working so hard. It is made to seem like the protesting that came after was not intentionally brought on by Rosa. But, that is wrong.