Regardless of what corner of the political boxing ring you sit in these days, all Americans should be proud to see a woman finally nominated by a major party as their candidate for office of the President of the United States.
Hillary Clinton made history this past week but she is not the first woman to change history. The list of women who have shaped the world we know (in addition to our mothers) is endless. Their stories are made more challenge, complex and interesting by virtue of their gender.
Whether or not you’re “With Her” (Hillary), let’s give her her due for breaking an historic barrier. Then check your local book store or library to find great books about other women who left their mark. You might start with these:
Margaret Mead – Jane Howard
Clara Barton: Professional Angel – Elizabeth Brown Pryor
Eleanor Roosevelt: Volumes 1 & 2 – Blanche Wiesen Cook
Harriet Beecher Stowe: A Life – Joan D. Hedrick
Sojourner Truth: A Life, A Symbol – Nell Irvin Painter
Personal History – Katharine Graham
Mother Jones: The Most Dangerous Woman in America – Elliott J. Gorn
Harriet Tubman: The Road to Freedom – Catherine Clinton
Jane Addams: Spirit in Action – Louise W. Knight
On a Farther Shore: The Life and Legacy of Rachel Carson, Author of Silent Spring – William Souder