The Bella Bulletin: February 2019 Edition

The Bella Bulletin FEBRUARY 2019

Happy birthday to…

Civil Rights Activist, Rosa Parks

Op-Ed on, “FRIDA KAHLO” Content Creator, Sofia Baluyut discusses the history and art of Frida Kahlo and her impact on society.

FOLLOW US @ABZUGINSTITUTE

Table of Contents

This Month in Women’s History ……....……….3 ACTIVISM THROUGH ART………………….…….……4 Featured Headlines of the Month …….....….….5 FEMINIST FIVE………………………………..…..……7 HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO..……………………….….....…...9 BALI Summer Applications…………..…..….......10 Summer Interns Needed…………..……...….......11 Looking for Enrichment Opportunities...…..12 The Bella Bulletin Staff…..…………..…..….......14 BALI STAFF & Board of Directors……….……....15

Women’s History of the month:

February

3

Activism Through Art Lately, Frida Kahlo’s iconic visage seems to be everywhere! You can see images of her face popping up on tote bags on the subway, buttons from the Strand, countless Instagram posts, and even NYC street art. But to truly honor this artist who centered womanhood, radical politics, and her personal struggles in her work, we should learn more about her history and her art.

Frida was born in 1907 in ​Coyoacán, Mexico. At 18, she was seriously hurt a bus accident, and would continue to be affected by those injuries for the rest of her life. Her recovery, however, is what led her to painting. Later, at 22, she began her relationship with Diego Rivera and traveled to support his artistic career. Their relationship was fraught, including a yearlong divorce followed by their remarriage, and many extramarital affairs for both (Frida engaged in affairs with both men and women).

Her art often reflected the painful relationships she had with her own body and with Diego. In her painting ​The Broken Column​, she depicts physical pain; in ​Henry Ford Hospital​, she paints about her experience of miscarriage. Following her divorce with Diego, she painted ​Self Portrait with Cropped Hair​, where she represents an androgynous version of herself in reaction to her difficult relationship.

Perhaps most importantly, however, her work was also deeply political. Frida was mixed-race, and made sure to particularly represent indigenous culture in her art. This interest in and centering of indigenous culture made her a part of the Mexicanidad movement. She often

painted herself wearing Tehuana traditional dress, which calls to an indigenous Zapotec culture where women are given key societal roles. Her iconic painting ​The Two Fridas can be interpreted, in part, as a discussion of her mixed heritage; she is shown holding hands with herself, where one version of herself is in European dress, and the other in traditional Tehuana wear. She also ​honored a connection with nature through paintings like ​Roots and Self Portrait with Monkey​. Frida also held Communist beliefs throughout her lifetime, attending protests, supporting workers, and critiquing the capitalistic U.S. ​Self-portrait on the Borderline Between Mexico and the United States is one such painting where her love of an independent, pre-colonial Mexico is clearly contrasted with her negative experiences of the United States.

Of course, there is so much more to learn and honor about Frida Kahlo. It is important that she is not whitewashed and that the legacy of her beliefs live on just as much as her image.

Though she would later be claimed as a figurehead for different feminist movements, there was more to her work and her life than can be revealed in these one-dimensional understandings of her. To continue thinking about Frida and her legacy, there is an exhibition of her artwork ​at the Brooklyn Museum running from February 8–May 12, 2019, and ​Teen Vogue and ​The Independent offer articles that can serve as starting points to discuss the contrast between Frida’s image being commodified and the actual politics she stood for.

4

Headlines of the Month Representative Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Markey Introduce Green New Deal

Kenya Postpones Court Decriminalizing Gay Sex

Decision

on

Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Edward J Markey have recently introduced a congressional resolution, Called the ​Green New Deal aimed at limiting greenhouse gas emissions and making other significant changes in the United States in order to combat climate change. The resolution proposes a “10-year mobilization” or a “Green New Deal mobilization” that involves completely transitioning to the use of renewable and zero-emission energy sources, upgrading all buildings in the United States to power-efficient buildings, eliminating pollution and greenhouse gas emission from the manufacturing industry, the transportation industry, and the agricultural industry, and creating new, high-paying jobs in clean energy industries. The proposal also works towards eliminating inequalities around climate change, and demands that all people in the United States have clean air and water, climate and community resiliency, healthy food, access to nature, and a sustainable environment.

Ocasio-Cortez and Markey have introduced this resolution because Greenhouse gas emissions are the cause of some of the worst consequences of climate change. According to the research that this proposition cites, carbon emissions in the United States are rose by 3.4% last year, and if climate change proceeds in this current pattern the world will face extreme natural disasters and the United States alone will lose billions of dollars. According to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, the resolution will be brought to the floor for a vote within the next few weeks.

This Friday, February 22nd, Kenya’s high court was scheduled to rule on ​decriminalizing gay sex​.

However, the judges have claimed that more time is needed to review the evidence, and as a result, the vote has been ​postponed until May​. This vote was going to be major landmark for LGBTQ+ Kenyans, who face immense discrimination on the basis of their sexuality. Many of them are barred from promotions, getting hired for certain jobs, and having access to education and health services. Furthermore, many experience physical harassment, abuse, and incarceration. Activists claim that the vote not only has a wide influence on Kenya, but other African countries as well. Gay sex is illegal in most African countries, but the issue has recently been brought to attention in places like Angola, where gay sex was decriminalized back in January, and Botswana, where the matter will be voted on in March. The opposition to repealing the law comes primarily from religious groups, such as the Kenyan Christian Professionals Forum, who claim that same-sex relationships are examples of damaging sexual perversion and that there is a history within Kenyan culture of excluding homosexuality.

Advocates for repealing the laws say the exact opposite: that a history of accepting homosexuality has been prevalent in Kenyan culture. Advocates for the law also point to Kenya’s landmark ​2010 constitution​, which is revered for being progressive. According to these advocates, it would be hypocritical for the Kenyan government to claim to ensure the rights of its citizens in the constitution while still supporting laws that clearly discriminate against a portion of these citizens.

5

Headlines of the Month Equal Rights Amendment Failed to Pass in Virginia

This month, the Virginian state government had the opportunity to become the needed 38th state to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA); a piece of legislation, originating in 1923 , that states “Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.” The ERA was passed by Congress in 1972, but required the approval of 38 states by 1982 to become official. By 1982 only 35 states had given their approval. Despite the fact that the deadline is expired, many advocates for the ERA have initiated efforts to extend or eradicate the deadline so that upon the approval of a 38th state, the ERA could still have the potential to become a national law. Illinois and Nevada have both approved the amendment since the 1982 deadline, leaving the country with only one state left to ratify the amendment. During the state government’s 46‑day General Assembly session, Virginia was given the opportunity to be that final state . Efforts to get the amendment passed in Virginia have failed before, but advocates were more hopeful of its success this year this year with the Democrats, the party that had demonstrated the most support for the amendment, almost having the majority House of Delegates. The ERA passed in the Senate, but was voted against in the House subcommittee.

Many activists are critical of the fact that the amendment was not seen by a full committee and suggest that if the amendment had been allowed this provision, it might have been passed. Although Virginia did not become the state to save the ERA, North Carolina will be undergoing a similar process in March in which the ERA will be once again considered for ratification.

A Record Number of 6 Women are Running for President

The 2020 presidential election has more women running in it than ever before. In previous years, there have been no more than two women running in the primaries at the same time. In the 2020 presidential election, however, six women have already declared their candidacy. The candidates include Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, California Senator Kamala Harris, Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar, New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Hawaiian Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, and author Marianne Williamson. All of these women are running as Democrats, but their platforms are vastly different. For instance, one of Senator Klobuchar’s main focuses of her campaign is combating the opioid crisis, while Senator Harris is known for her focus on civil rights and her legislation for middle‑class tax‑cuts.

Not only will the 2020 elections be historical for the mere number of women running for office, but for the opportunity for women to be considered and supported for their values and arguments, and not simply because they are female candidates. There is no doubt that this surge of female candidates running for president was encouraged by and a part of the wave of women who were elected to congress this past year in the midterm elections, in what some deemed to be “The Year of the Woman.”

6

Michelle Obama’s latest book, Becoming (2018), ​is her autobiographical memoir. The book sold approximately 725,000 copies in the United States on the first day, making it the second best- selling debut of all books sold in 2018. The book reached 1.4 million copies in the first week, and in about two weeks, became the best-sold book of the year in 2018. This record-breaking book is taking the world by storm, captivating a wide variety of readers, scholars, and critics. In ​Becoming​, Michelle Obama tells the story of her life growing up on the south side of Chicago, her time as a lawyer, meeting her husband, Barack Obama as well as her experience being a mother. She takes readers into her life and the experiences that have made her who she is. She shares the highlights of her life as well as the disappointments. From a wise perspective, Michelle Obama inspires readers to be the 7

authors of their own truths, their own stories and overcome the odds.

Feminist Five “Every girl, no matter where she lives, deserves the opportunity to develop the promise inside of her.”-Michelle Obama

Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama, the first Black First Lady of the United States of America, was born on January 17th, 1964. She is married to Barack Obama, the 44th president of the United States. Michelle grew up on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois. Her mother was a housewife and her father was a city water plant employee. The family lived in the South Shore community area, which she rented from her great aunt. She attended Princeton University, following her brother to the same school and graduated cum laude in 1985. She recalls in her memoir that her teachers advised her to not apply to an Ivy League school for fear of setting expectations that were too high. Upon attending Princeton she explained that it was the first time that she was aware of her race.

Post graduation, she earned her J.D. from Harvard Law School with more confidence. She later worked at the law firm, Sidley and Austin, where she met Barack Obama. Michelle also worked as an assistant to the Chicago mayor in 1991. Obama gained an important position in 1996 as executive director of community affairs at the University of Chicago Hospitals. She worked there until 2008 when the primary campaign for presidency began.

Michelle Obama became one of the most prolific celebrities of her time as First Lady of the United States. She played an exceptionally active role in issues and campaigns that mattered to her. Some of the major issues that she countered were homelessness, women’s rights, LGBT rights, and health of children. She garnered a successful public image in popular culture, for her fashion statements, discipline and presence. Her latest venture post‑presidency has been the release of her memoir Becoming , in 2018.

8

THIS Month at BALI

2019 SUMMER APPLICATIONS ARE UP!

10

INTERNS NEEDED

11

Looking for Enrichment Opportunities?

American Museum of Natural History​ various teen programs run through the American Museum of

Black Natural Girls Code Historyoffers programming and events in coding for African American girls.

Black Girls Code​ offers and eventsand in coding for African American girls.

Brotherhood/Sister Sol programming offers afterschool summer programming in relationshipbuilding, self/global awareness, social justice, leadership development, and more. Some of Brotherhood/Sister Sol​ offers afterschool and summer programing in relationship-building, self/global their programs are gender-specific. awareness, social justice, leadership development, and more. Some of their programs are gender-specific.

ChickTech offers programming and mentorship in STEM for high school girls.

ChickTech​ offers programming and mentorship in STEM for high school girls.

Curious Jane offers classes and summer programming in science, theatre, arts and crafts, and more for girls.

Columbia University​ pre-college programs for high school students run through Columbia University.

DigitalCurious Girl, Inc. at high to provideinprogramming andand offers Jane​ works offers classes and schools summer programming science, theatre, in artsSTEM and crafts, moretech for workshops girls. for the community.

Girl,works Inc. ​works at highschools schools totoprovide STEM andrace, offers and tech workshops for Girl BeDigital Heard in high teachprogramming girls aboutingender, class through theand community. theatre, offers workshops and performances.

Generation ​ encourages civic engagement in youthand through an action civics class.

Girl Vow offers Citizen education, mentorship, advocacy, life skills training for girls.

Girl Be Heard​ works in high schools to teach girls about gender, race, and class through theatre, and

Girls for Gender Equity offers programming in community advocacy, leadership, and social offers workshops and performances. justice for girls.

Girl Vow​ offers education, mentorship, advocacy, and life skills training for girls.

Girls Inc. offers programming in statistical analysis, economic literacy, leadership and community STEM,offers media literacy,inathletics, education, Girls foraction, Gender Equity​ programming community sexual advocacy,health leadership, and socialsubstance justice for abuse prevention, girls. self-defense, and more for girls ages 6-18.

Girls Inc.​ offersoffers programming analysis, economic literacy, and community action,day Girls Leadership Parentin&statistical Daughter workshops, parentleadership education, and summer media literacy, athletics, campsSTEM, for girls entering gradessexual 4 andhealth 5. education, substance abuse prevention, self-defense, and more for girls ages 6-18.

Girls on the Run offers a physical activity based youth development program for girls in gradesGirls 3-8.Leadership ​offers Parent & Daughter workshops, parent education, and summer day camps for girls entering grades 4 and 5.

Girls Who Code offers afterschool and summer programming in coding for middle and high Girls on the Run ​offers a physical activity based youth development program for girls in grades 3-8. school girls.

Girls Who Code​ offers afterschool and summer programming in coding for middle and high school girls.

Girls Write Now offers mentoring programs in writing, digital media, and college preparation for girls.

Girls Write Now​ offers mentoring programs in writing, digital media, and college preparation for girls.

12

13

Click on program names For More Info!

GOALS for Girls offers year‑round programming, a summer intensive, weekend forums, and internships in STEM for middle and high school girls.

LOVE Mentoring works at high schools to deliver small‑group mentoring for young Latinas.

Life is Precious offers individual and groups counseling, arts therapy, academic support, and nutritional and fitness activities to prevent suicide among young Latinas.

Lower Eastside Girls Club provides programming in STEM, business, art, leadership, and advocacy, as well as mentoring for girls in grades 6‑12.

Northeast Regional Alliance (NERA) MedPrep Program a preparatory program for students between junior high and college who wish to pursue careers in the medical field. The NERA MedPrep program has partnerships with five medical institutions including the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.

NYC GREAT! offers programming and mentoring in college and career readiness for high school girls.

NYU GSTEM is a six‑week summer program for high school girls during the summer between their junior and senior years who have high aptitude in STEM subjects.

Powerplay NYC works in elementary, middle, and high schools to offer after‑school programming in physical activity and healthy living.

Soul Sisters Leadership Collective works in schools to offer workshops to explore issues faced by young women of color.

Summer Health Professions Education Program a free summer enrichment program for college students pursuing health professions.

The Whitney Museum of Art arts programs and events for teens at the Whitney Museum of American Art.

Vibe Theatre Experience offers theatre and media programming for girls ages 13‑19.

Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls offers after‑school and summer music programming for girls.

Young Women's Christian Association an organization that informs women on societal issues that affect them and encourages them to vote

13

14

The Bella Bulletin Staff Staff Gisselle Rodriguez Benitez Wilma Abam-DePass Co-Editor-in-Chief Editor-in-Chief School: Northeastern Croton Harmon High School School: University Grade: 12th Major: Economics BALI Class BALI Class of of:2017 2016 Email: wilma@depass.com Email: gisselle@abzuginstitute.org

Zoe Abam-Depass Donovan Wilma Co-Editor-in-Chief Section Editor

School: Bard High School Early College Queens School: Croton High School Grade: 12th Grade: 11th BALI Class of 2017 BALI Class of: 2017 Email: zoezoedonovan@gmail.com

Sofia Baluyut Zoe Donovan Content SectionCreator Editor

School: Bard Early College Queens School: Bard High EarlySchool College Grade: 12th Grade: 11th BALI Class BALI Class of of:2018 2017

Mayannah Beauvoir Adriana Rodriguez Content Creator Section Editor

School: Temple University School: Brown University Majors: Africana Studies/English/Gender/Sexuality Major: Political Science Minor: Women’s Studies BALI of: 2016 Intern Class for BALI Class of 2018 15

for inquiries and suggestions, email contact@abzuginstitute.org for inquiries and suggestions, email gisselle@abzuginstitute.org

15

14

BALI Staff

Liz Abzug

Oriela Baliaj

Gabriela Valette

Founder & Executive Director

Senior Program Associate

Program Coordinator

Munira Choudhury Program Assistant

Neonne Ameer Program Intern

BALI Board of Directors Liz J. Abzug, Founder/Executive Director Erica Forman, Board-Chair Meg Holzer, Secretary Cynthia McKnight, Treasurer Erica Forman, Chair Eija Ayravainen Gloria Steinem Joanne Davila Maya Catherine Popa Kai Gilchrist

Betsy Scheinbart-Norton Harold Holzer Jonathan Greenberg Judy Lerner Melissa Noonan-Mazzei

Jerry Goldfeder A.J. Lederman Kylie Reiffert Liz Cooper

16

CLICK HERE FOR OUR SUBMISSION FORMS

16