7 women of colour who made history

It’s Women History Month, a time to celebrate females all over the globe. These seven women of colour have broken both gender and racial barriers as they made history.

1. Shirley Chisholm (1924-2005)

Photo from: the U.S. News & World Report collection at the Library of Congress (Creative Commons)

Shirley Chisholm was the first woman of colour elected to the US Congress in 1968. She was an advocate for minority rights and later became the first black presidential candidate for a major party, as a Democrat.

2. Maya Angelou (1928-2014)

Photo by: Brian Stansberry, licenced under https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en

Maya Angelou was a Pulitzer-nominated poet. A civil rights activist and leader in black feminism, Angelou used her books and public appearances to advocate for cultural minorities and women rights.

3. Oprah Winfrey

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Oprah Winfrey is a woman of colour who revolutionised entertainment history. Her 25-seasons show aired from 1986 to 2011, and she used it as a platform to present not only celebrity news and interviews, but also stories about regular people, shifting the focus from the famous to the unfamous.

4. Michelle Obama

Photo from: the Executive Office of the President of the United States

Michelle Obama is not only the first black woman to serve as the First Lady of the United States, but also a successful lawyer, with degrees from both Princeton University and Harvard Law School. Starting with her time at the White House, she launched multiple programs advocating for childhood health and gender equality.

5. Malala Yousafzai

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The world’s youngest Nobel Peace laureate, Malala Yousafzai is known for human rights advocacy, especially the education of young women and children. She also founded Malala Fund, aiming to help girls complete the right to free, safe, quality education.

6. Nicola Adams

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Nicola Adams made history as the first woman to win the Olympic gold medal for boxing. Up until 2012, the Olympics did not allow women to compete in boxing, so Adams was fighting against stereotypes to earn her place in the ring. She is also the first LGBTQ+ boxer who won a medal.

7. Olivette Otele

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Olivette Otele doesn’t just write history, she makes it. She is the first black woman to be made a Professor of History in Britain, therefore opening new doors for women in academia. She has earned the title of Professor of the History of Slavery due to her research in black history.