Wisdom Wednesday: Women's History Month 2024: Angelic Icons that Empower Me
Angela of Jamestown. Angela Davis. Maya Angelou. Angela Bassett.
Recently, I was asked to complete an assignment about a woman who made a lasting impression on me. I was asked to explain how their core values and ethics relate to my coaching methodology and personal values. The women above (minus Angela of Jamestown) were in the running. In the final decision, I chose to use Angela Davis. It just so happened that all of them had some form of “Angel” in their names. For most of my adult life, I have wanted to meet Maya Angelou, Angela Davis, and Angela Bassett. Also, Patti Labelle, but her name doesn’t fit this theme right now. She’ll be an honorable mention.
In light of Women’s History Month, I’d like to provide something similar to that exercise as I share with you what about these women’s lives resonates with my own and how they could inspire you to transform and be empowered. They may be famous but they each had their own journeys to travel, mountains to climb or go around, and ditches to persevere out of; especially as women of color in America.
Angela of Jamestown was an African woman who was likely a war captive from Angola in 1619 who was sold into enslavement and forced to take the grueling journey across the Atlanta Ocean. She was one of nine Africans that lived and worked in Jamestown. She is known as the first named African woman in Jamestown. There isn’t much to know about her historically except that she lived in Jamestown over 400 years ago and was the first black woman to be named in slave records.
Imagine being a trailblazer in many respects: the first grandchild, the eldest child in a family, the first to have children, the first to take the leap into entrepreneurship, and the breaker of generational cycles of dysfunction. While there are certainly more instances of pioneering efforts, the essence of the narrative doesn't lie in the enumeration of these firsts. It lies in the unique name and existence of the one who was thrust into the ‘first.’
What stands out about Angela isn't that she was the sole African woman to navigate through horrific and traumatic experiences and a tumultuous enslaved life. Her legacy endures because she was the first to be documented by name. This fact alone makes her an enduring symbol of the power and significance of having one's name and story remembered. (Read more about Angela here and here.)
Lesson: Don't be afraid to be the 'first.' There is honor in being the first. A name and a story are memorable.
You may have seen the photo of the black woman with the stunning afro and fist raised in solidarity. That woman is Angela Davis. Since my teenage years, I have admired her strength from afar. Growing up in a household that did not emphasize black history and black power, we were instead pushed toward accepting diversity. Being from the rural South, perhaps this was our way of dealing with and looking beyond the evident injustices that were part of everyday life for people of color in the South. I discovered Angela Davis not through my public education or my military family environment, but through my own quest as a teenage girl to understand what it means to be "black." Who better symbolizes blackness than Angela Davis?
It was only as I grew older, transitioning from the life of a very young, impoverished wife and mother of color to one of hope and a quest for knowledge, that I truly understood who this woman is. Now, she represents more than just a light-skinned black woman embodying the strength of blackness.
Ms. Davis is a philosopher, a womanist (as feminism originally excluded women of color), an educator, an author, an activist, and a thought leader, predating the term's popularity in TED talks. She is an icon, a political refugee and prisoner, a Black Panther, and a communist. She is brilliant, passionate, and bold.
Her early exposure to Jim Crow laws and segregation, coupled with her mother's refusal to remain silent, nurtured her activist spirit. Her extensive education, both academically and socially, shaped her into a professor and educator. Her determination, integrity, beliefs, and values led her to join powerful movements like the Black Panther Party and the Communist Party, and to seek political asylum and face imprisonment for standing up against America's systemic racism.
Reading Angela's story and listening to her teachings ignite in me a quest for knowledge and understanding, an acceptance of my drive for justice and fairness, and the opportunity to stand on my beliefs and values to teach and empower others. (Read more about Angela Davis here and here.)
Lesson: You are who you know you are, not who they say you are. Be driven by and build on this truth alone.
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969) author, Georgia, Georgia screenplay writer (1972), Phenomenal Woman and Still I Rise poet writer, actress, activist, professor, and icon, Maya Angelou, is also the first Black woman to feature on the United States quarter. That’s the upper echelons of icnonicness. (Is that a word?) She’s always been a great aunt to me from afar.
Ms. Angelou’s life was anything but simple, iconic, or beautifully perfect. Her journey through life was marked by resilience and grace, navigating through the complexities of racial discrimination and traumatic personal challenges with unwavering strength. Her eloquence in articulating the depths of the human spirit, particularly in the face of injustice, has made her an emblem of courage and wisdom. Through her literary and artistic contributions, she not only voiced her own experiences but also echoed the collective struggles and triumphs of black Americans.
Her intelligence, cultural sophistication, wisdom, determination, and steadfast adherence to her beliefs and values positioned her as a beacon for empowerment across generations. As a mother and a mentor, Maya Angelou's legacy extends far beyond her written works; she has left an indelible mark on the social justice, arts, entertainment, and academic spheres, not only in America but also within the global Black community.
Reflecting on my aspirations to leave a legacy that transcends my individual existence, Maya Angelou stands as a towering figure of influence. Her life and work continue to inspire a commitment to justice, a passion for creativity, and a dedication to lifting others up. (Read more about Maya Angelou here and here.)
Lesson: You don’t have to be a product of where you come from and what has happened to you. You are not your past. But, your past helps to shape you. How it shapes you is up to you.
Last but definitely not least, Angela Bassett. Another absolutely iconic woman who is well known for portraying iconic women on the big screen. Raised by a single mother, Ms. Bassett was inspired to act in high school before being encouraged to study at Yale University. She majored in Afro-American Studies and earned an MFA in drama. Just this alone speaks volumes about the roles that she has taken on portraying the dramatic realities of black women in America.
She has been an actor for almost 40 years and won multiple awards, finally being honored with an Academy Award in 2024. After appearing in at least 56 movies and several television appearances, she has become not only a sister to fellow black actors but also a mentor and an auntie. (Michael B Jordan & Jonathan Majors and Regina King - thank you!) She has become a beacon of light and wisdom to the black entertainment community.
What I absolutely admire about Angela Bassett is her grace and power. She moves like royalty and carries herself as such. Proof of this is reflected in her Oscar snub in 2023 for her role of Queen Ramonda in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. She killed that dialogue! We all know she should have won not just then, but long before then. Let’s remember her rendition of the iconic Tina Turner, shall we? Even with this injustice clear as day to anyone paying attention, she walked with her head held high, cheered on her sister actors, and kept staying true to herself.
It was this year, in 2024, that things were finally made right by honoring her with an Academy Award. What did she do when she took the stage? She honored the black women actors who were never able to finally see their overlooked talents and power righted. It was in her humility that she honored the shoulders that she has been able to build upon instead of a self-made interpretation of her existence and longevity. All the while she held that Academy Award statue showcasing those beautifully toned and sculpted arms. When I tell you she is an absolute goal for me!
Bassett's humility, her strategic choice of roles that reflect the nuanced realities of black women, and her exemplary conduct in both her personal and professional life resonate deeply with me. They reflect a legacy of empowerment, excellence, and sisterhood that I aspire to emulate. (Read more about Angela Bassett here and here.)
Lesson: When you are showing up in the world as who you are there is no need for external validation. Keep developing you, being you, and shining your light into the world. The greatest legacy is the people you impact.
It took me quite some time to learn that we are not meant to only be influenced and impacted by those of our bloodline. We can’t choose the families or circumstances that we are born into. What we can choose is to be willing to look outside of those boundaries and seek inspiration and empowerment wherever we can find it. It is only when we seek beyond the borders of our comfort zone that we will find examples of those who have overcome the plights of struggle and discrimination.
Let Women’s History Month be more than just a ‘thing’ that’s on social media once a month. I spent years praying and hoping for a mentor to come along beside me and “help” me become the woman I dreamed of. Learn from my mistake. Just because you don’t know someone personally doesn’t mean you can’t glean from their lives, character, and journeys.
Go out and make your own top 3-5 list of iconic people that align with your values and dreams.
Happy Women’s History Month 2024. Remember, 5 minutes ago is the past and 5 minutes from now is the future. How are you making history?
