By M. Paulyne Morgan White, Sparkling Specialties
The women history month legacy of 2020 celebrating “100 years of women winning the right to vote” was marked with grandeur, however, it was punctuated with the global pandemic, COVID-19.
Many activities were cancelled. Yet, women and celebration and the suffrage movement desired and were determined to continue the commemoration during the 2021 year.
Together with the National Women’s History Alliance and other national organizations, called for an extension for the long time planning and vow of adopting a theme “We refuse to be silenced’ and work with other organizations like to National Women’s Alliance connecting virtually not to stop celebrating and being silent.
Throughout 2021, civic bodies, museums, historic societies, dignitaries established programs, platforms and varied other female recognitions. We saw the congressional approval of the American Women’s Quarters program, one major recognition that will recognize all women achievers especially women appearing on the reverse side of quarters of the portrait of George Washington. Also, it had been approved by congress to issue five new designs of women, now through 2035.
This year we will see on coins Sally Ride, Maya Angelou, Cherokee Chief Wilma Mankilla, New Mexico suffragist, Adelina “Nina” Otero-Warren and film star Anna May Wong. We were also pleased to see women elected politically like Kamala Harris, U.S. Vice President and Supreme Court Nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson.
Among other significant approval by congress, was the Smithsonian American Women’s History museum, the unveiling of the Light of Truth Ida B. Wells, national monument in Chicago, as well as a monument outside her original newspaper office in Memphis, Tennessee.
Other noted tributes to women’s suffrage movements centennial celebration of the 100 years of women winning the right to vote during 2021.
The legacy of the women’s 100 years of a struggle to be recognized congressionally on winning the right to vote in 2021 as well as keeping the faith of “not to be silenced.”
A call to action by a new generation is now featured on YouTube, statues, markers and historic sites challenging the misunderstanding about women in history.
As a result of the centennial celebration and the congressional approval of the women’s history museum as well as Vimeo as all been helpful of telling women’s legacy and writing women back into history boldly.
Looking ahead this year the University of North Carolina will present “She can, We can Beyond the Women’s Suffrage Centennial,” a diverse series of events and discussions. August 20, 2022 is Equality Day and women nationally will be requesting congress to declare it a holiday. Noted on the request is to have women’s suffragist like Harriett Tubman, Sojourner Truth, Lara Cornelius Kellogg, and Martha Coffin Wright.
The 2022 theme for the National Women’s Alliance is “Women Providing, Healing, Promoting Hope.”
Last updated on March 29, 2022
