They say that well behaved women rarely make history. For centuries, women have broken the rules, raised their voices, and left their mark in ways that continue to inspire. Rachel Carson alerted the American public to the dangers of modern agricultural practices. Phillis Wheatley became the first African American woman to publish a book and make a living from her writing. Gloria Anzaldúa re-mapped the coordinates of border studies and feminist theory. Eunice Johnson founded and directed Ebony Fashion Fair.
This March, in honor of Women’s History Month, we’ve gathered Humanities Moments that document the legacies of women like these.