“On International Women’s Day, March 8, 2017, women and our allies will act together for equity, justice and the human rights of women and all gender-oppressed people, through a one-day demonstration of economic solidarity.”
To those women who came before me, my great-grandmothers, my great-aunts, and the matriarchs of my namesake, thank you for paving the way for us…for fighting to give us a voice, a place in the workforce, a pathway to education and success.
To those women who stand beside me now, my sister, my mom, my aunts and cousins, my grandmas, my friends and family by blood and by choice, thank you for continually inspiring me to be a better person, a better woman. Thank you for breaking stereotypes, for challenging the status quo, and for uniting together during a time when it would be so easy for us to fall apart.
For those women who will come after me, my children, my grand-children, my future nieces and friends, I hope you continue to stay strong, even if it seems impossible. Nothing will come easy, and it shouldn’t…their is nothing that strengthens you like fighting for something you believe in, and I hope you all have the chance to do that. Challenge yourself. Question everything. Dream BIG. Don’t fear the fire…become it.
And for those women in the spotlight who make conscious decisions to be strong and positive role models for women and young girls, thank you for showing the world that not every girl is obsessed with diamonds and glitter. Thank you for loving your bodies and for being open about not changing yourselves to fit into some stereotype. Thank you for encouraging young girls to read, get involved, and join causes that are important to them. Thank you for choosing roles that showcase women as smart, brilliant members of society and for opening our eyes to the women of history who have helped shape and mold our nation and our world.
Today I join my fellow sisters in economic solidarity. After today, I hope it will be very clear to see who runs the world…
The Hob-bee Hive 