
Anna Julia Cooper: Champion of Black Women’s Voices
Born into slavery in Raleigh, North Carolina, Anna Julia Cooper transformed the limitations imposed upon Black women into fuel for her relentless pursuit of education and justice.

Born into slavery in Raleigh, North Carolina, Anna Julia Cooper transformed the limitations imposed upon Black women into fuel for her relentless pursuit of education and justice.

When we think of the Civil Rights Movement, names like Martin Luther King, Jr. and John Lewis dominate the narrative. Dorothy Cotton, an unsung architect of racial justice, embodied the period of protest and change.

Callie House, a Tennessee laundress born into slavery, dared to demand pensions for her fellow washer women.

Before the buzzer sounds, before the world takes notice, before history is recorded—Black women have already been there, pushing boundaries, setting records, and changing the rules of the game.

Through the ages, Black women have flexed their power as workers and earners in their families and communities. From laundresses in the 19th century to ascendancy in professional and corporate spaces, their collective actions have been pivotal in demanding labor rights and dignity.

I celebrate you – Black women – by invoking these “she-rose” sisters who’ve made enduring freedom strides over the centuries.

In this season of thanks and giving, we celebrate Black women who epitomize the generosity, courage, and dedication that define Black philanthropy.