Trailblazing Woman: Miss Major Griffin-Gracy

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Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, often referred to as Miss Major, is an American author, activist, and organization for transgender rights. She has spent the last 50 years fighting for her trans and gender noncomforming community.

MISS MAJOR GRIFFIN-GRACY (b. 1940s) Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, often referred to as Miss Major, is an American author, activist, and organizer for transgender rights. She has spent the last 50 years fighting for her trans and gender noncomforming community.  Miss Major was born in Chicago, IL in the 1940s and assigned male at birth (AMAB). … Read more

Trailblazing Woman: Pauli Murray

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Pauli Murray was a civil rights activist, advocate, legal scholar, and later in life, an Episcopal priest. Murray’s work influenced the civil rights movement and helped to expand legal protections for gender equality.

PAULI MURRAY (1910-1985) Pauli Murray was a civil rights activist, advocate, legal scholar, and later in life, an Episcopal priest. Murray’s work influenced the civil rights movement and helped to expand legal protections for gender equality. Murray — born Anna Pauline Murray — was born in Maryland and was the fourth of six children. Murray’s mother … Read more

Trailblazing Woman: Septima Poinsette Clark

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Septima Poinsette Clark was a teacher and civil rights activist who was a fierce advocate for literacy, education, and social progress. Clark is often referred to as the “Mother of the Civil Rights movement” for her efforts in getting African Americans to register to vote.

SEPTIMA POINSETTE CLARK (1898-1987) Septima Poinsette Clark was a teacher and civil rights activist who was a fierce advocate for literacy, education, and social progress. Clark is often referred to as the “Mother of the Civil Rights movement” for her efforts in getting African Americans to register to vote.  Born in 1898 in South Carolina, … Read more

Trailblazing Woman: Sojourner Truth

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Sojourner Truth, born Isabella Baumfree, was a formerly enslaved woman who became an outspoken advocate for abolition and women’s rights in the 19th century.

SOJOURNER TRUTH (1797-1883) Sojourner Truth, born Isabella Baumfree, was a formerly enslaved woman who became an outspoken advocate for abolition and women’s rights in the 19th century. She is best known for her speech, “Ain’t I a Woman?” Truth was born into slavery and sold four times, often subjected to harsh physical labor and violent … Read more

Trailblazing Woman: Ketanji Brown Jackson

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Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson | madewithlev.com

KETANJI BROWN JACKSON (b. 1970) Ketanji Onyika Brown Jackson is the first Black woman and first former public defender to be serve on the Supreme Court. Jackson was born in Washington, D.C. in 1970 and grew up in Miami, Florida. In high school, Jackson served as class president and excelled at debate and speech competitions. … Read more

Trailblazing Woman: Andrea Jenkins

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Andrea Jenkins, first openly Black Transgender woman elected official

ANDREA JENKINS (b. 1961) Andrea Jenkins is the first out Black transgender woman to win elected office in the US. Jenkins is also an accomplished poet, writer, and historian, focusing her efforts on documenting the stories of transgender and gender non-conforming Midwesterners.  Born in Chicago, IL in 1961, Jenkins was raised by a single mother … Read more

Trailblazing Woman: Nina Simone

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Nina Simone, singer-songwriter, musician, and activist | madewithlev.com

NINA SIMONE (1933-2003) Nina Simone was a singer, songwriter, composer, pianist, and civil rights activist. Her music defied standard definitions and continues to resonate with audiences worldwide. Simone, née Eunice Kathleen Waymon, was born in North Carolina in 1933. Her talent as a musician was evident early on, when she started playing the piano by … Read more