Incredible Women

In the spirit of intersectionality, inclusiveness, women's empowerment, and perseverance, I would like to use today's blog post to talk about some of the 2018 National Women's History Month Honorees. I picked five women of color who show great perseverance, remind us to be inclusive in our feminism, and inspire us with the amazing things that they accomplished.

Susan Burton

Burton was caught in the criminal justice system for a while, but when she gained freedom she founded a program for released prisoners called A New Way Of Life Re-Entry Project. She also is a co-founder of All of Us Or None and the Formerly Incarcerated Convicted People’s Movement, projects that aid formerly convicted people. As a formerly imprisoned person herself and someone who gained her life back and did amazing things with it, she is a huge inspiration.

Cristina Jimenez

Jiminez was instrumental in creating the DACA program for undocumented children and students. She herself was an undocumented immigrant and turned her hardships into amazing accomplishments. She is the Executive Director of United We Dream, an immigrant-youth led organization. Jimenez, like Burton, used her experiences and suffering to help others.

Saru Jayaraman

This attorney leads restaurant workers in organizing for better wages and better working conditions. She is the President of the Restaurant Opportunities Centers United and the Director of the Food Labor Research Center at UC Berkeley. She has also authored two books. Jayaraman dedicates her life to helping others make the best of their lives. Her compassion for others is something we can all take a lesson from.

Loretta Ross

A survivor of rape and sterilization abuse, Ross dedicates her life to focus on feminist issues, especially for women of color. She helped to create the theory of Reproductive Justice, striving to make this justice more inclusive. She has directing and founding positions in the D.C. Rape Crisis Center, the Women of Color Program for the National Organization of Women, the National Black Women’s Health Project, the

Center for Democratic Renewal/National Anti-Klan Network, the National Center for Human Rights Education, the 2004 March for Women’s Lives in D.C., and the SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective. This massively extensive list shows her determination, dedication, and success through perseverance. Ross also teaches us that if feminism and justice is not inclusive, it is not complete nor valid.

Angelica Salas

Salas is the Executive Director of the Center for Humane Immigrant Rights and works with the Fair Immigrant Rights Movement and Reform Immigration for America. An immigrant herself, she was inspired to help immigrants gain rights and access to social services. Like the rest of these amazing, empowered women, Salas teaches us that struggles can turn into successes and that anything is possible with perseverance and the right mindset.

Real Talk.