by Jacquie Johnson, founder of Jacquie ooh

The conversation surrounding influential moments and people in black history often focuses on the contributions of men — leaving the vital efforts of black women by the wayside. That’s why it’s important to make sure black women’s contributions are always part of our conversations about history. While some are more well-known than others, lack of mainstream recognition doesn’t make these women’s efforts any less significant to our country’s progress. Everyone knows that Harriet Tubman freed the bodies and minds of enslaved people. School also loves to throw in a little something about Rosa’s intentional stand against injustice. And we recently witnessed Kamala Harris who made modern history as the Vice President of the United States of America; and Ketanji Brown Jackson who was confirmed as the first African American woman to serve as a justice of the United States Supreme Court. While these women’s contributions to history are incredibly important, there are countless other black women whose stories aren’t as widely known but deserve honor, respect, and
reverence. As we celebrate Black History Month, we thought we’d look at some black women who have made or is still making history in the realm of fighting for the rights of working people, fighting for our rights as a race of people, helping to build thriving communities, still fighting for voting rights and so much more. The battles these women have fought and are still fighting should make these women household names. Black women today are at the forefront of battles for the rights of African Americans, building on the work of
our ancestors and the women who trail blazed before them. Check out several women past and present who are making history and have made history right in ourown backyards.

Mandy Price
Mandy Price is an advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as the CEO and co-founder of Kanary’s Inc. Kanary’s is a technology platform that fosters collaboration between companies and employees on DEI in the workplace. Kanary’s allows individual contributors to anonymously rate, review and submit surveys on diversity and inclusion at their current and former employers. https://www.kanarys.com

Dr. Adena Williams Loston
Dr. Adena Williams Loston serves as the 14th President of St. Phillip’s College, our nation’s only college to be federally designated as both a Historically Black College and Hispanic Serving Institution with three military base sites, four early college high schools and five P-Techs serving more than 13,000 students. Dr. Loston was named one of the Ten Most Dominant HBCU Leaders in 2021. https://www.alamo.edu/spc/about-spc/leadership/president/

Christia Adair
In 1918, when she was 25 years old Christia Adair went door-to-door organizing for women’s right to vote in Texas. This effort was to pass a bill where women would be able to vote like men. When the bill passed, Adair went to the polls for the first time. The memory of what happened stuck with her the rest of her life. Ms. Adair stated how she remembered her and other black women dressing up like the white women to go and vote, however when they got to the polls they couldn’t vote. She stated she remembered receiving all kinds of excuses on why they couldn’t vote. Finally, the question was asked by one of the women so we can’t vote because we’re “Negroes” and the response was YES, Negroes don’t vote in primary in Texas. Ms. Adair stated that after experiencing that, her long career began as a civil rights
leader in Houston. Because of efforts by her, by other African American women leaders and even a U.S Supreme Court case, black women in Texas would eventually win back their right to vote, decades after the state ratified women’s suffrage. https://www.womenintexashistory.org/biographies/christia-adair/

Today, I challenge you to look around you and write a list of women right in your own circle who are making history. Then reach out to these women and let them know how you appreciate them for what they are doing for their families, communities, and others around them. Take it a step further and pass the list along to your children; and share the struggles and victories of these women so that they can
appreciate their history! And as you hear of black women who are making strides in your communities document it, before you know it you will have your own book on black women and their contributions to your communities. What a great legacy to pass along to your children and others in your family!

Contributing Writer, Jacquie “ooh” Johnson
Jacquie Johnson is a native Texan who resides in Denton, TX with her husband and two daughters. She has two older sons who
reside in California, and one grandson. Jacquie is the founder of Jacquie ooh an online resource hub for women. Her goal is to
provide resources to help women think well and live well. She is the creator of the Glow Collection by Jacquie ooh, an organic
skincare line where she provides gourmet food for your skin. Jacquie is heavily involved in her community where she has been
sworn in as a precinct chair for the Democrats of Denton County. She is also a new author to two books: Glow Through It 21 Day
Devotional Journal for Women and Dare to Sparkle Entrepreneur Startup Guide + Dream Big 4 Day Devotional.

For more information on Jacquie “ooh” Johnson please visit her website at http://www.jacquieooh.com