There were definitely Black women in the film Melissa Harris Perry, Oprah Winfrey, and Eleanor Holmes Norton to name a few, but my larger point is that contributions by Black women who shaped American feminism bell hooks, Kimberle Crenshaw, Patricia Hill Collins, Audre Lorde, and Angela Davis to name a few were left out.

It’s so important for us to remember that these women were not only advocates for Black women and Black feminism/womanism, but for all women. To omit them from story of the women’s movement in the United States is a gross oversight and really underserves the movement towards gender equality.

Therefore, when I think about today, International Women’s Day, it inspires me to continue working with my sisters of African descendant throughout the diaspora and applaud the work that we do without often receiving recognition for it.

Happy International Women’s Day to all!

Thank for such a thoughtful discourse. I agree with you. I too watched the “special” on PBS and waited for us to be represented. The lack of our inclusion in such an historical piece about American History is indicative of the lack of respect, to and for our contributions in history. This fact made it less “special” of a documentary and more of a mock-umentary and even a fairy tale. Make believing for those who want to negate that we are an essential part of this historical tapestry, works for some.

However, and in the end PBS, should stand for PROUD BLACK SISTERS because we are and most definitely needed to be included in this exchange. As always we will make our own way and tell our own stories; FULL, BEAUTIFUL AND ACCURATE. Thank you again for this.

Sisterly,
Dr. Deborah

Thank you for such thoughtful discourse. I too watched the PBS “special” and wondered where we were. I did see Melissa Harris-Perry present in a small clip, but not enough time was paid TO HER and or who she is and how she got to be a Black Woman with her own show on MSNBC in THIS DAY. Nor, was there mention of the sisters you listed above. In general, and all too often we have been and are seemingly invisible or we are erased and overlooked in terms of presence, contribution and importance; as if we were never there, and not now HERE.

Thus, with the absence of our inclusion in the PBS documentary “Makers: Women Who Make America”, there was nothing “special” about it all for ME. Such a telling indeed has its place in the dialogue of and about women. However, when the distinction of our exclusion persists and is evident regarding who we are, where we have been and what we have done to help “Make America, in my eyes this “telling” becomes a PBS “MIS-documentary of sorts and indeed a Fairy Tale. Thank you again.

Sisterly,
Dr. Deborah