Black History Month closed with actress and activist Gabrielle Union speaking in the Michael D. Rose Theatre on Wednesday. This marks the transition into Women’s History Month at the University of Memphis. It was created to honor women’s contributions in American history, with a yearly theme selected and published by the National Women’s History Alliance.
The theme for 2019 is “Visionary Women: Champions of Peace & Nonviolence” with the aim to honor women who have led efforts to end war, violence and injustice and pioneered the use of nonviolence to change society. Accordingly, the theme of this year’s Women’s History Month at the UofM is “Champions and Visionaries”.
Those staying close to campus over the break can start the month cheering for UofM women’s athletics. The women’s softball team will play nine games between March 1 and 10, and the women’s basketball team will play one game against Temple on March 4 at Elma Roane Field House.
There will be a Feminist Fair in the University Center Atrium on March 12 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Last year, there were stands, “Showcasing local and campus-wide services that support women in Memphis,” Cookie Woolner, a UofM history professor and a member of the Women’s History Month Steering Committee, told The Daily Helmsman in 2018.
On the same day, Jemele Hill, a former ESPN commentator, Emmy Award winner and staff writer for The Atlantic, will visit the campus to speak at the Norm Brewer First Amendment Lecture at 6 p.m. in the UC Theater.
There is an opportunity for women of all ages to connect at the “Bringing Women Together; Celebrating the Multi–generational Relationships of our Students and Families” March 16 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the UC River Room.
Students can also educate themselves about self-care, with get-togethers, such as “Stay Woke & Stay Well: Self-Care Practices among Black Women” on March 26 and “Ladies’ Night: Self Care and Share,” on March 27 in the UC Bluff and Iris Rooms respectively, both starting at 4 p.m.
Memphis often commemorates the 1968 Sanitation Workers Strike that brought Martin Luther King Jr. to the city. On March 21, the UofM also honors the wives of the Workers Strike, with a reception and program in the UC River Room starting at 5:30 p.m.
Just like Black History Month, Women’s History Month will close with a strong female speaker who has made a nation-wide impact. Tarana Burke, the founder of #MeToo Movement, will share the story behind the movement addressing sexual trauma or harassment in the UC Ballroom.
The whole calender with more events and info can be found at memphis.edu/whm or on Twitter and Instagram @UofMWHM.
