Mayor's Weekly Column
From the Desk of Mayor Hall
Women’s History Month is a Celebration of Our Past, Present and Future
In 1987, the National Women’s History Project led a successful campaign to establish National Women’s History Month, with the goal of educating as many people as possible about the pivotal role of women in American history. Every March since, the nation has celebrated and honored the considerable contributions women have made to American history, society and culture.
It’s hard to believe, but it wasn’t until the second half of the 20th century that women in most western societies began to enjoy the same legal and political rights accorded to men. Women in the United States were not granted the right to vote until 1920. For many, however, it was a nominal right. Many African-American women -- and men -- continued to face restrictions on voting, such as literacy tests, grandfather clauses and other measures, including outright intimidation, that prevented them from voting. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 finally outlawed discriminatory voting regulations.
Countless women have left their marks on our society, and their accomplishments are so vast that it would be impossible to try to list any of them without leaving out countless others of equal achievement. But it is important, especially for young women, to understand the struggles and achievements of our ancestors. This understanding helps expand our sense of what is possible in our society, even when we are faced with obstacles that seem impossible to overcome. There are so many examples of remarkable women that remind us all what anyone, regardless of race, gender or ethnicity, can accomplish with commitment and determination.
Let us consider the life of the great Shirley Chisholm, a groundbreaking political leader, activist and the first African-American to be a major party candidate for President of the United States. Born in 1924, Ms. Chisholm was a graduate of Columbia University who began her career as an educator and director of the Hamilton-Madison Child Care Center in Manhattan’s Lower East Side.
First elected to public office in 1964 as a member of the New York State Legislature, Ms. Chisholm later ran a successful campaign for the United States Congress, becoming the first African-American woman to serve in the House of Representatives. Throughout her seven terms as the representative of New York’s 12th District in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn, Ms. Chisholm worked tirelessly to improve opportunities for inner-city residents. She was a vocal opponent of the draft and a champion of education, healthcare and social services while fighting for reductions in military spending. She served in Congress from 1969 until her retirement in 1983.
In 1972, Shirley Chisholm became the first African-American to make a bid for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination. Though ultimately unsuccessful, her campaign broke new ground for women and African-Americans alike. Ms. Chisholm said she ran for the office “in spite of hopeless odds … to demonstrate the sheer will and refusal to accept the status quo.”
This month, I encourage you to take some time out to reflect upon and learn more about the leading role women have played in our nation’s political, social and cultural history. As you do, I hope you will embrace Ms. Chisolm’s inspiring ideology and join me in refusing to accept the status quo as we work together to improve the quality of life for Village of Hempstead residents.
To stay on top of what’s happening in the Village, please join our electronic mailing list by sending your name and email address to Mayor@villageofhempsteadny.gov, and listen to the “Hempstead Happening” radio show every Wednesday at 4:15 p.m. on WTHE-AM (1520).
Sincerely,
Wayne
Wayne J. Hall Sr.
Mayor of the Incorporated Village of Hempstead
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