The Last Word

BY R.L. WITTER

Women make history daily, but March is the month when our accomplishments, discoveries, and contributions are celebrated. In the third decade of the 21st century, women are striving and thriving to reach new heights and receive the accolades that were once only dreams.

For some, like Vice President Kamala Harris, Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown, Rep. Maxine Waters, Rep. Ayanna Pressley, and many others, dreams took them to Washington, DC and the halls of power. For others, like Whoopi Goldberg, Viola Davis, and Angela Bassett, Broadway and Hollywood have called upon them to make us laugh and cry while telling our stories.

Many of our dreams have been formed by the strength, tenacity, and sacrifice of others—those who came before us. These women are the trailblazers who lay paths for the rest of us to follow and give us the inspiration and courage to forge our own paths. Without Oprah Winfrey, there’d be no Tamron Hall. Without Josephine Baker, there’d be no Beyoncé. Without Althea Gibson, there’d be neither Venus nor Serena. Sure, these people would still exist, but they likely would not have become the celebrated icons they are today.

There are countless other Black women whose names are unfamiliar to us, but whose labors and accomplishments are no less important or impressive. These are the teachers, doctors, lawyers, inventors, writers, griots, and chefs who add knowledge, health, justice, technology, history, and flavor to our everyday lives. And of course, we mustn’t forget our mothers, aunts, cousins, and sisters.

I was blessed to be born into a family of accomplished women. My mother has worked in media for most of my life; first in children’s educational television, then later in radio and journalism. I have aunts that run the gamut from a beauty queen to a poet, and a talk show host and artist. One cousin founded a line of Black greeting cards and another forged the path for three generations to attend Howard University. I’ve seen the example set of women who have labored to have 50-year marriages, and the courage of women who struck out on their own when their marriages were no longer the best situation for themselves and their children.

In 2023, women are showing the strength, beauty, education, and love needed to advance ourselves and future generations. I ask that we also show ourselves and others grace as we navigate uncharted waters and seek new and exciting adventures in business, sports, government, education, motherhood, and every other field that has been opened and made available for us to strive, thrive, and succeed.

Thank you to my mother, aunts, cousins, nieces, sisters, friends, and every other woman who is working every day to make her own history and create a more beautiful, peaceful, and loving world for everyone. It takes a village… and every one of us is needed.