International Women’s Day
“Sisters Who Been Handling Business”
Dr. Julius “Max” Wisdom: Contributor
Welcome to International Women’s Day, a time to celebrate the Queens who have been holding it down, showing up, and making history—oftentimes with no credit, no thank-you, and no PTO.
Black Women been saving democracy, leading movements, and raising the next generation of revolutionaries, all while dodging nonsense.
Today, I’m diving into three major moments where Black Women showed up and showed out:
1. The Suffrage Movement – When White Women Left Us Hanging
2. The Civil Rights Movement – The Backbone Behind the Marches
3. Kamala Harris – The Black Woman Who Made America’s Vice President Look Like America
Y’all remember the 19th Amendment?
You know, the one that gave women the right to vote in 1920? Yeah, about that. While white women were out here celebrating, Black women were still out here dodging Jim Crow laws, literacy tests, and poll taxes.
The Sisters Who Fought Anyway:
• Sojourner Truth: She hit ‘em with the “Ain’t I a Woman?” speech, (While recent uncovered writing begs to differ, whether this what, or how she spoke, she stood up and said her piece), reminding white women that feminism wasn’t just about them.
• Ida B. Wells: She was organizing, writing, and pulling up to suffrage parades—even when white feminists told her to march in the back. Sis said, “Nah, I’m good,” and marched front and center anyway.
• Mary Church Terrell: A founder of the National Association of Colored Women (1896), she wasn’t just fighting for votes—she was fighting for justice, education, and economic opportunity.
Meanwhile, white suffragettes were out here smiling for the cameras and quietly cutting deals with racist politicians to keep Black women out of the movement. Sound familiar?
The Civil Rights Movement – The Backbone Behind the Marches
Everybody talks about Martin, Malcolm, and the Brothers, but who was doing the real heavy lifting? BLACK WOMEN.
The Women Who Made It Happen:
• Fannie Lou Hamer: “I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired.” And honestly? Same, sis. She fought for Black voting rights even after being beaten in a Mississippi jail.
• Ella Baker: She said “y’all can have the speeches, I’m building organizations”—and she helped start the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC).
• Diane Nash: When the Freedom Riders were getting locked up and buses were burning, she made sure the movement didn’t stop.
And let’s be real—who made sure folks were fed, housed, and safe while the men were giving speeches? Black women. Because you can’t lead a movement on an empty stomach.
Kamala Harris – The Black Woman Who Made America’s Vice President Look Like America
Fast forward to 2024, and Black women literally saved democracy… again.
After Black women spent centuries fighting for the right to vote, we got to see Kamala Harris step into the role of the first Black, South Asian, and woman Vice President of the United States.
But Let’s Be Real—They Didn’t Make It Easy
• They questioned her Blackness (despite her HBCU degree from Howard—come on now).
• They tried to erase her record as a prosecutor (but forgot that most politicians start somewhere).
• They hit her with the double standard—too tough? Not tough enough? Pick a struggle, America.
But at the end of the day, she did what Black women always do—push through and make history.
The 2024 Presidential Run: Black Women at the Forefront
In the 2024 presidential election, Black women once again demonstrated their pivotal role in shaping the nation’s political landscape.
Impact on the Election and the Nation
Final Word: Black Women BEEN the Blueprint
From the fight for voting rights to making sure elections go the right way, Black Women have been the MVPs of history. And what do they get for it? A pat on the back and “Maybe next time” when it comes to reparations.
So on International Women’s Day, let’s do more than just celebrate—let’s uplift, support, and demand what’s owed. Because, as Fannie Lou Hamer once said:
“A Black woman’s place is everywhere she damn well pleases.”
And Professor Max Wisdom cosigns that.✊🏽
Sources:
https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/sojourner-truth
https://awpc.cattcenter.iastate.edu/directory/ida-b-wells/
https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/because-her-story-activist-and-suffragist-mary-church-terrell
https://www.fannielouhamersamerica.com/driving-tour/montgomery-county-jail
https://ellabakercenter.org/who-was-ella-baker/
https://snccdigital.org/people/diane-nash-bevel/
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/07/us/politics/harris-black-women.html?unlocked_article_code=1.2U4.RKV6.AtpPaIf5BO0j&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/06/opinion/why-kamala-harris-lost.html?unlocked_article_code=1.2U4.ln78.Ei7VcBTLiyYY&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare