We celebrate Women’s History Month to remind ourselves of all the accomplishments of all the trailblazing women who lead the path for change. For this week we bring you some of the essential books to read in Women’s History Month!
We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie *****
Award-winning author, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie throws the readers ta question, what does ‘feminism’ mean in today’s world? We Should All be Feminists is a personal, eloquently argued essay that blends humor and levity to define what it means to be a twenty-first-century feminist. Drawing from her own experiences, she shines on women’s discrimination which is still prominent but masked in institutional behavior. Chimamanda’s book is an of-the-moment rallying cry for why we should all be feminists.
Women in Science by Rachel Ignotofsky *****
Rachel Ignotofsky culminates the contributions of fifty notable women to the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) from the ancient to the modern world. The book is an illustrated collection of short biographies of inspiring innovators including well-known figures like Jane Goodwell (primatologist), and African American physicist Katherin Johnson who calculated the trajectory of the 1969 Apollo 11 mission to the moon. This book is a must-read for every girl and woman to understand the remarkable contributions of women throughout our history.
Becoming by Michelle Obama *****
Michelle Obama, the First Lady of the United States, the first African American to serve in that role reflects on her life and how she was raised, her childhood in Chicago, her roots and her family in this powerful memoir.
Michelle Obama has emerged as one of the most iconic and compelling women of this era. Not only did she help to establish a powerful advocate for women and girls around the world, but she also stood beside her husband to lead America through some of its most harrowing moments. The memoir is a reflective coming-of-age story that will inspire women and people of color who are struggling to find themselves in the world.
Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly ****
Set amid the civil rights movement, Hidden Figures depicts the story of NASA’s African American female mathematician who played a crucial role in America’s space program to the moon. Before Austraunut Neil Armstrong walked on the surface of the moon, a group of professionals worked as human computers to calculate the flight paths of this historic achievement. Among these groups was a bright African American woman whose equations helped NASA to launch rockets and astronauts into space. The book moves from World War 2 through NASA’s golden era, touches the civil rights era, the Space race, the Cold War, and the Women’s rights movement.
Margot Lee interweaved rich history with the story of five courageous women whose work changed the world forever.
Hood Feminism by Miki Kendall ****
The focus of mainstream feminism is often placed on the increasing privilege for the few in our society. Wage gaps, access to education, and health care are not the only prevailing feminist issues. Fighting against racism, religious fanatics, and existing transmisogyny are the issues that the white feminists often fail to see.
Mikki Kendell tells us how all the feminists should stand in solidarity as a movement. Perceptive and subversive the book assesses how we can save this movement in flux.
