Born Freda Josephine McDonald in St. Louis, MO, Josephine Baker joined the cast of Shuffle Along in 1922, which became the first successful African American musical. She took part in the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom with 250,000 other civil rights supporters in 1963. The following year, the U.S, Congress would pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
It’s believed that Elizabeth Freeman, Mumbet, was born between 1742-1744, to enslaved African parents in Claverack, New York. Ruled in their favor, Mumbet and Brom became the first enslaved African Americans to be freed under the Massachusetts constitution of 1780 in Brom & Bett v. Ashley which was argued before a county court in August 1871.
Marie Antoinette was born Maria Antonia Josephina Johanna on November 2, 1755 in Vienna, Austria. As queen, she supported the composers whose work she appreciated and was patron of many artists. With her indifference to rules and social classes, she bore witness to new ideas in a court which still stoutly upheld tradition. One account of her life is that she became a toy in the hands of much older politicians or intriguers, without ever encountering serious or sincere friendship. She was executed by guillotine in 1793.
Celebrated in the United States and in various countries around the world, March is Women's History Month. Honoring women of the past while illuminating the many injustices women still face and raise awareness about gender inequality, the first “National Women's Day” was established on February 28, 1909.
In this post, you'll discover seven influential women who’ve left their mark in various frontiers.
Anna Eleanor Roosevelt was born on October 11, 1884 to Elliott Roosevelt and Anna Hall. She worked on social, education, and cultural issues and in 1947 was elected head of the 18-nation U.N. Human Rights Commission. She even published her own newspaper column, called “My Day,” which ran in newspapers across the country, six days a week for nearly 30 years.
