Announcing the 2024 Women’s History Theme
“Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion”
The 2024 Women’s History theme celebrates “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and
Inclusion.” The theme recognizes women throughout the country who understand that, for a
positive future, we need to eliminate bias and discrimination entirely from our lives and
institutions. Women from every background have long experienced that an uneven playing field
that will never bring equality or justice. Who will you honor in your community or organization?
CLICK HERE for complete article.
A Personal Note from the Executive Director
My friends,
Our “Passing the Torch” Party was a wonderful experience. Old friends who hadn’t seen each
other in decades were reunited and many new friends were made. The purpose of the Party
was to thank all the people who have made the 43 years of the NWHA possible and to recognize
that the leadership torch is being passed to a new generations of women’s history activists.
The good news is that no one is retiring until December 31, 2023. We had the party on August
27th because the park wasn’t available on August 26th (Women’s Equality Day) and summer for
me is the best time for parties. Even after December 31st, Martha Wheelock will stay on as the
President of our Board of Directors and I will continue to act as staff by answering the phone
and giving my support and advice whenever asked.
During the transitional year of 2024, we’ll need your help more than ever. As you probably
know, there is a dangerous amount of disinformation flooding our airways and schools.
Women’s History is being censored by content and author. Who would have thought that book
banning would become prevalent in our educational system? 2024 is year for direct action both
by having Congress recognize the ERA and by talking with our local, state, and national
educators about the need for books that recognize equity, diversity and inclusion. I am eager to
work with you. Please feel free to contact me anytime.
Forward Together!
Molly Murphy MacGregor
Remembering Ada Deer, (1935 – 2023)
Ada Deer, a very special friend of the National Women’s History Alliance passed on August 15, 2023. Indian Country Today described her as, a “force of nature” and a legendary figure whose life and accomplishments are woven into the social and political fabric of Indian Country. Ada Deer’s passionate work for justice and equal opportunity is also integral to the fabric of America’s history.
In the 1970s Ada Deer moved to Washington DC to challenge the government’s policy of Termination which a decade before had denied the Menominee their sovereignty and cut off their lifeline of federal financial support. Termination was a political, economic, and cultural disaster for the Menominee.
After years of her unrelenting work meeting with representatives and senators, writing briefs and
organizing protests, President Richard M. Nixon signed the Menominee Restoration Act. In 1975 the Menominee regained its sovereignty with Ada Deer as it first chairwoman.
Her tributes list all the ways she was the first member of her tribe to graduate from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the first to receive a graduate degree; she was also the first woman to lead the Menominee and the first woman to lead the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs. All these firsts were achieved because of her amazing intellect, her bold and contagious passion, her generous spirit and her ability to inspire countless generations to take action to make the world better.
PBS Ada Deer: Making A Difference https://www.pbs.org/video/ada-deer-making-a-difference-oa1jgw/
Women’s History Censored
The 2024 Women’s History Month theme, “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion,” is a direct challenge to the un-American, fear-driven book banning that is appearing in many parts of the country.
In April 2023, the American Library Association documented an unprecedented 1,269 demands to censor library books in all 50 states. A May 23, 2023 article in the Washington Post reported that most of the 1,000-plus book challenges filed during the 2021-2022 school year in 153 U.S. school districts were filed by just 11 people! According to PEN America, one individual filed 10 or more complaints that were responsible for two-thirds of all challenges.
This development is outrageous and calls for action. One direct response comes from the El Paso YWCA, which sent out a request asking for donations of books that featured inspirational and empowering women. Within a week, 237 books on that list had been donated and will be available to more than 2,000 children. These 237 books will introduce women like Malala Yousafzai, Marian Anderson, Misty Copeland, Charlotte Parkhurst and many other real and fictional women as important role models and examples of inspiration in these students’ lives.
Amanda Gorman’s inauguration poem banned by Florida school
The NWHA will continue to sell “controversial” books since we are dedicated to writing women INTO history and passionately oppose writing them OUT of history. We believe in supporting free speech, opposing censorship, and confronting the fear that drives individuals to ban books. The fight against censorship is another important front in the defense of women’s rights and the promotion of women’s history.
Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum Virtual Event
Decades in the making, the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum is being planned in our nation’s capital. Please join us to learn about the museum and how you can get involved!
RSVP Here https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SAWHM_Virtual_Information_Event to attend one of the two sessions offered. Upon RSVP, you will be invited to share advance questions with the museum’s staff to address during the presentation.
Session 1 : Tuesday, September 26 –10:00-11:00 am ET
Session 2 : Thursday, September 28—4:00-5:00 pm ET
Chinese American Women in History Conference 2023
“Locating Kinship Across Space and Time” October 5-7, 2023 Washington, DC and Virtual
Scholars, filmmakers, and community members alike will share their work exploring the multifaceted and complex experiences of Chinese American women. All conference sessions will be recorded and made available to attendees and the general public after the conference.
Register to attend on Eventbrite here: https://1882foundation.org/cawh2023/
A Special Thank You to Katie Lee, our summer intern, for updating our Detailed Timeline of the Legal History of Women in the United States. https://nationalwomenshistoryalliance.org/resources/womens-rights-movement/detailed-timeline/
The NWHA ERA Webinar is now available on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luYYXtc5nBk
Your personal support is needed now for the Equal Rights Amendment.
Please sign the petition at www.sign4ERA.org !
Save This Date
- National Women’s History Networking Conference, November 11, 2023, to be held virtuallly from Washington, DC. For more information email nwhp1980@gmail.com.
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