Cohort, Curriculums Celebrate Women’s History Month

With Women’s History Month well underway, people all around the world have been talking about and celebrating women’s triumphs, contributions to history, and importance in society.

Sophomore Lara Heber said, “In Cohort [Academy] this month we’ve begun learning about influential women throughout history…. My teacher had us identify famous colored women in history as well as name female heroes, and also pick a woman mentioned on the slideshow to research and learn more.”

1 of the women mentioned in the Academy Cohort slideshow was Frida Kahlo (1907-1954). She was a Mexican painter who is known best for her self-portraits that portrayed her real struggles and disabilities as well as her societal beauty ‘imperfections’.

Another woman mentioned was Sojourner Truth (1797-1883) who was an African American abolitionist and advocate for civil and women’s rights. She was the 1st Black woman to ever win a case against a white man, and made the very famous speech, “Ain’t I a Woman?”

Sylvia Rivera (1951-2002) was a transgender activist from Puerto Rico. She was a founding member of both the Gay Liberation Front and later the Gay Activists Alliance, both in New York City, and was one of the inciters of the monumental Stonewall Riots. She was also mentioned in the presentation.

“In our classes as well we’ve also been talking about women throughout history that were influential to the specific subject,” said sophomore Kaya Lu.

Celia Cruz (1925-2003) was a Cuban singer who became one of the most well-known Latin singers of the twentieth century. Cruz rose to fame in Cuba as a guaracha singer in the 1950s, gaining the nickname “La Guarachera de Cuba.” Cruz is considered the “Queen of Salsa.” She was talked about in some of the Campolindo Spanish classes.

Astrid Lindgren (1907-2002) was a Swedish screenwriter and novelist. She is best known for her beloved children’s book series Pippi Longstocking. She was also a strong advocate for children’s rights and animal protection. Lindgren was discussed in AP European History classes.

Katherine Johnson (1918-2020) was an American mathematician and NASA employee. As mentioned in several of Campo’s math and science classes, her orbital mechanics calculations were incredibly crucial to the first and subsequent US crewed space flights.

Sophomore Raena Chan said, “Women’s History Month is important because it recognizes all of the important figures that were women that played large roles behind the scenes that we might not have known.”