Unsung Females of Black History Month

Here are twelve unsung Black American females who are sometimes forgotten during Black History month. They made their contributions to Black history and can be true inspirations to women everywhere. I only provide a brief synopsis of each, but I encourage you to find out more about them.

Hadda Brooks (1916-2002) - was an Black American pianist, vocalist, and composer. Her first single, "Swingin the Boogie", was composed in 1945. She was known as the "Queen of the Boogie". Hadda was married to Earl "Shug" Morrison, a Harlem Globetrotter for one year. He passed away in 1942. It was her only marriage. She was the second African American woman to host her own television show. Hadda received the prestigious Pioneer Award in 1993 and a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2000. Ms. Brooks died after open heart surgery at the age of 86.

Madame CJ Walker (1867-1919_ - was one of the first African American women to become a self made millionaire. Because of a scalp ailment that resulted in hair loss, Madame CJ invented a line of Black hair products in 1905. She traveled across the country giving lectures and demonstrating her products. Madame CJ eventually established the Madame CJ Walker Laboratories to manufacture her products and train beauticians. She was also known for her philanthropy endeavors, donating a large amount of money towards the construction of an Indianapolis YMCA in 1913. She died at the age of 51 of hypertension.

Charlotte E. Ray (1850-1911) - was the first Black American female lawyer in the United States. She graduated from Howard University, was the first female admitted to the District of Columbia Bar, and the first woman admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia. Ms Ray opened her our law office, however, she only practiced for a few years because of prejudice against Black Americans and women. Charlotte moved to New York and became a teacher. She was also involved in the women's suffrage movement and joined the National Association of Colored Women. She died at the age of 60 from acute bronchitis.

Christina Jenkins - invented the hair weaving process in 1950. She received a patent in 1951 for her hair weaving process. Until her technique came along, African American women were applying weaves to the heads with hair pins in a painful way. Ms. Jenkins passed away in 2002.

Sarah Rector (1902-1967) - was born in Indian Territory before it became the state of Oklahoma in 1907. She was a member of the Muscagee Creek Nation and was known as the "Richest Colored Girl in the World". Ms. Rector became rich when oil was discovered on a parcel she owned in Glenpool. When she received money from this discovery, it was not legal for a Black or Indian to own land or receive money unless they had White guardianship. Her guardianship was assigned to a White family and she began receiving her windfall from this discovery. Ms. Rector lost the majority of her wealth during the Depression and died at the age of 65.

Ella Baker (1903-1986) - was an African American civil rights and human rights activist. She was a large behind the scenes organizer for over five decades. She worked alongside W.E.B. DuBois, Thurgood Marshall, A. Philip Randolph, and Martin Luther King. She also mentored many female activist, Diane Nash, Stokely Carmichael, and Rosa Parks. Ms. Baker has been called one of the most important African American leaders of the 20th Century and perhaps the most influential women in the Civil Rights Movement. Ms. Baker remained an activist until her death at the age of 83.

Diane Nash (1938- ) - is an African American civil rights activist, leader and strategist of the student wing of the Civil Rights Movement. Her campaigns that were successful included integrated lunch counters, the Freedom Riders, co-founding the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, co-initiating the Alabama Voting Rights Project and working on the Selma Voting Rights Movement. This helped gain Congressional passage of the voting Rights Act of 1965. Ms. Nash has received the Rosa Parks Award, Distinguished American Award, the LBJ Award for Leadership and the Freedom Award.

Septima Poinsetta Clark (1898-1987) - was an African American educator and civil rights activist. She developed the literacy and citizenship workshops that played an important role in the drive for voting rights and civil rights for African Americans in the American Civil Rights Movement. She was also known as Queen Mother or Grandmother of the Civil Rights Movement. Ms. Clark was awarded a Living Legacy Award in 1979 by President Jimmy Carter and the American Book Award that same year. She was awarded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference highest award, the Drum Major for Justice Award, during her eulogy in 1987. The Septima Clark Public Charter School in Washington D.C. is named in her honor.

Fannie Lou Hamer (1917-1977) - was an African American voting rights activist, civil rights leader and philanthropist. She organized Mississippi's Freedom Summer for the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and was the vice-chair of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party which she represented at the 1946 Democratic National Convention. Ms. Hamer ran for Congress twice but failed to win. She also worked on other projects such as grassroots level Head Start and MLK Poor People's Campaign. She died from hypertension and breast cancer at the age of 59. On her tombstone is engraved one of her favorite quotes, "I am sick and tired of being sick and tired."

Daisy Bates (1914-1999) - was an African American rights activist, publisher, journalist and lecturer who played a leading role in the Little Rock Integration Crisis of 1957. She was named Woman of the Year in 1957 by the National Council of Negro Women, received the Candace Award from the National Coalition of 100 Black Women in 1984, the Congressional Gold Medal posthumously by President Bill Clinton in 1999 and many other awards during and after her life.

Anna Arnold Hedgerman (1899-1990) - was an African American civil rights leader, politician, educator and writer. She was the executive director of Harry Truman's 1948 presidential campaign and was awarded a federal appointment in the Health Education and Welfare Department in Truman's administration. Ms. Hedgerman was also a member of New York mayor Robert F. Wagner, Jr.'s cabinet. She worked as a major advocate, served as a consultant for various companies and later founded Hedgerman Consultant Services. She died in Harlem Hospital at the age of 90.

Dorothy Height (1912-2010) - was an African American administrator and educator, civil rights and women's activist focusing on issues of African American women. She was the president of the National Council of Negro Women for 40 years. Ms. Height received the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal and many other awards. In 2016 she was honored with a 2017 U.S. Postage Stamp, the 40th stamp in the Black Heritage Forever series.

I hope you found the above women inspirational and encouraging. As women, we should all encourage and uplift one another. We are the backbones, the voices, the roots, the all to whatever happens in day-to-day life. Inspire to be all that you can be. These women did and look at the tremendous legacies they have left behind.

Until next time, stay strong in your power as a woman!