Women’s Day Biographies
My name is Marian Anderson. I am an opera singer.
Today, in 1940, there is still segregation in the United
States. I am the first African American to sing at the
famous Metropolitan Opera House. Once, I wanted
to sing at Constitution Hall, but an organization called
“Daughters of the American Revolution” said Black
women can’t sing in that important place. So we
organized a concert at the Lincoln Memorial instead,
and 75,000 people came to hear me sing!
1897 – 1993
My name is Nicki Minaj. I was born in 1982 in Trinidad and
Tobego. I moved to New York City when I was 5 years old.
Now I am the first famous woman hip-hop artist. Before,
rappers were all men, and many rap songs by men are
sexist. I like to dye my hair different colors and wear crazy
clothing for my concerts. I am on T.V. as a judge on the
show “American Idol.”
1982 – Present
My name is Etta James. I was born in 1938 and grew
up in California. I am a famous singer of Jazz, Blues
and Pop music. My nickname is “Peaches.” My most
famous song is a romantic song called “At Last.” I
influenced many famous artists today, including
Beyonce.
1938 – 2012
My name is Harriet Powers. My parents and I are
slaves in Georgia. I can read and write, even though
slaves are not permitted to learn. I also make quilts. My
quilts tell stories from the Bible and stories about the
stars.
1837 – 1910
My name is Kara Walker. I was born in California in 1969. My father was an artist, and when I was
a little girl I watched him work. I wanted to learn to draw. Now I am a famous artist. I make art by
cutting figures out of black paper and putting them against a white background. My art is very
different from anything we have seen before.
1969 – Present
My name is Augusta Savage. I was born in 1892 in Florida. I started molding figures out of clay
when I was a little girl. My father told me to stop, but I continued. When I grew up I moved to New
York City to make art. Now I am a famous artist and art teacher. I am the first Director of the
Harlem Community Arts Center, where teenagers can take art classes.
1892 – 1962
My name is Phillis Wheatley. I was born in Africa in
1753. When I was 7 years old Europeans captured
me and took me to North America. I am a slave, but
I learned to read and write and now I write poetry. I
am the first African American woman to write a
book. I write about religion. The sun and the moon
inspire me.
1753 – 1784
My name is Zora Neale Hurston. I was born in
Alabama in 1891. I went to Barnard College in New
York City. I was the only African-American student. I
am an anthropologist and I study African-American
culture. I also write novels and stories about the lives
of African-Americans in the South.
1891 – 1960
My name is Madame C.J. Walker. I was
born in 1867. I started my own company to
sell hair and beauty products for AfricanAmerican women. I am the first woman to
become a millionaire in the United States!
I also teach other women to start their
own businesses like me.
1867 – 1919
My name is Harriet Tubman. I was born a
slave in 1820 in the South. In 1849 I
escaped to the North to be free. My family
stayed in the South, so I returned to help
them escape, too. Then I returned 13
times to help other slaves escape. My
nickname is “Moses.” Later I fought in the
Civil War and in the women’s movement. I
believe all people can be free and vote.
1820 – 1913
My name is Wilma Rudolph. When I was born
with a sickness called polio. I walked with a leg
brace. I trained and practiced, and now I love
to play basketball and run. I am the fastest
woman in the world! I am the first American
woman to win three gold medals in the
Olympic Games. My nickname is “the
Tornado!”
1940 – 1994
My name is Rosa Parks. I am a leader in the Civil
Rights Movement. In 1955 a bus driver told me to
stand up and give my seat to a White man. I said “no,”
and he called the police. After they arrested me,
many African-American people refused to ride bus
until we could sit in the same seats as the White
people.
1913 – 2005
My name is Briana Scurry. When I was
young I loved basketball, but now I am
a goalkeeper for the United States
international women’s soccer team. In
1999 we won the FIFA World Cup.
Now I help younger women on the
team become great soccer players.
1971 – Present
My name is Maya Angelou. I am a writer. I have
also worked as a dancer, a singer, a bus driver, a
professor, and a Civil Rights leader. I wrote a book
about my life called “I Know Why the Caged Bird
Sings.” This is part of a poem I wrote about
freedom:
“The caged bird sings
with a fearful trill
of things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom. “
1928 – Present
My name is Sacagawea. I am a guide. I helped
explore the Western part of the United States.
We traveled thousands of miles from the middle
of the country to the Pacific Ocean. Now all of
that land is part of the United States. You can see
my face on the American dollar coin!
1788 – 1812
My name is Mary Lyon. I started two universities
for women. When I was a student women only
learned to cook and sew. In my universities we
teach women math, science and other important
classes. I believe women can be teachers and
professionals, not just mothers.
1837 – 1849
My name is Mary Edwards Walker. I am a
surgeon. I cared for soldiers in the Civil
War. The enemy captured me and accused
me of being a spy. After the war I worked
for the women’s movement. I want women
to have the right to vote. I am the only
woman to have a Medal of Honor from the
U.S. Government.
1832 – 1919
My name is Antoinette Brown
Blackwell. I am the first woman to
become a Christian minister. When I
asked to enter the school for ministers
they said “no.” Later they agreed. Now
I use my religion in my fight for
women’s rights.
1825 – 1921
My name is Harriet Beecher Stowe. I am
a writer. I write about the lives of slaves
in the South. I wrote a book called
“Uncle Tom’s Cabin” that is very famous
and popular. I believe slavery is wrong
and all slaves should be free.
1811 – 1896
My name is Susan B. Anthony. I am a
leader in the women’s rights
movement. I believe women and
African-Americans should have the
right to vote and to work. I started
many organizations and newspapers
for women.
1820 – 1906
My name is Elizabeth Blackwell. I am the first
woman to finish medical school and become a
doctor. I was very lonely in school and it was
difficult to find work as a doctor. Finally I
started my own hospital for women. Now I
help other women become doctors.
1821 – 1910
My name is Sojourner Truth. I was born a slave,
but I escaped to the North when I was 29 years
old. I fight for the rights of women and AfricanAmericans. This is part of a famous speech I
made:
“Look at my arm! I have ploughed and planted,
and gathered into barns, and no man could head
me! And ain't I a woman? I could work as much
and eat as much as a man - when I could get it and bear the lash as well! And ain't I a woman?”
1797 – 1883
My name is Emily Dickinson. I am an important
American poet. I like to be alone and spend my
time in my home writing poetry. I wrote more
than 1800 poems! I write about flowers, death,
religion, and my own life. Here is a part of a
poem I wrote:
“Because I could not stop for Death –
He kindly stopped for me –
The Carriage held but just Ourselves –
And Immortality.”
1830 – 1886
My name is Arabella Mansfield. I am the first
woman to become a lawyer. After I became a
lawyer, Iowa changed its laws so other women
could become lawyers, too. I also work with
Susan B. Anthony and fight for the women’s
right to vote.
1846 – 1911
My name is Mother Jones. I am a
dressmaker and a teacher. I help organize
mine workers in unions. We do strikes and
protests to ask for better pay and working
conditions. I also fight against child labor. I
believe children should play and study and
not work.
1837 – 1930
My name is Sarah Winnemucca. I am a Paiute
Indian. The White Americans took our land and sent
us far away to a reservation. The government didn’t
give us food or clothing. I can speak English, so I
went to Washington to tell people about the
problems of the Native American people. I also
wrote a book. I am the first Native American woman
to write a book in English!
1844 – 1891
My name is Isadora Duncan. I am a dancer. I
don’t like traditional ballet dance. I dance with
natural movements and I use dance to express
my emotions. I like to dance with no shoes! I
changed the way people dance in America.
1877 – 1927
My name is Ma Rainey. My nickname is the
“Mother of the Blues.” I started singing when
I was 12 years old. I am the first person to
record Blues music, a music that is traditional
in the United States, especially for AfricanAmericans.
My name is Nampeyo. I am
a Hopi Indian. I make and
paint pottery in the
traditional style. My
ancestors inspire me. I
traveled around the
country to show my
pottery, and many of my
pots are in famous
museums now.
1860 – 1942
My name is Helen Keller. I can’t see or hear.
My teacher, Annie Sullivan, taught me to
communicate with sign language. I worked
very hard and went to University. Now I am
a writer and I fight for the rights of workers
and women. There is a movie about me
called “The Miracle Worker.”
1880 – 1968
My name is Lettie Pate Whitehead. I was born in a
wealthy family in Virginia. Now I am the director of
the Coca-Cola Company. I was the first woman to
become the director of a large American company. I
give my money to universities, hospitals and
museums.
1872 – 1953
My name is Jeanette Rankin. When I was a
child I liked to build things and work with
machines – things that only boys did! Now I
am the first woman to be elected to the
United States Congress. I was elected
twice. I believe in peace, and when the U.S.
decided to join World War I and World War
II, I voted “no.”
1880 – 1973
My name is Dorothea Lange. I am a famous photographer. I took pictures of people during the
Great Depression, an era of great poverty in the United States. This is my famous photograph of a
poor mother and her children. I also took pictures of the Japanese Americans who were put in
camps during World War II. I want to tell the world about people and their problems with my
photographs.
1895 – 1965
My name is Rachel Carson. I am a scientist.
I learned that people used dangerous
chemicals in agriculture. The chemicals
destroyed nature. I wrote a book called
“Silent Spring” to tell people about the bad
chemicals. Now those chemicals are illegal,
and many Americans are fighting to save
the environment.
1907 – 1964
My name is Georgia O’Keefe. I am a painter. I paint flowers, bones, and landscapes from the
desert in the state of New Mexico. I also lived in New York City, and some of my paintings are of
buildings in New York. I express emotion through harmonious colors and lines.
1887 – 1986
My name is Gertrude Ederle. When I was
a little girl women did not swim
professionally. They couldn’t even wear
bathing suits! I love to swim. I am the first
woman to swim across the English Channel
from France to England. When I grew older
I lost my hearing. Now I teach deaf
children to swim.
1905 – 2003
My name is Janis Joplin. My nickname is
“Queen of Rock and Roll.” I started
singing with a rock band called “Big
Brother and the Holding Company.” Later
I became a solo singer and sang blues
and rock music. I am a rebel and I don’t
like doing what other people tell me to
do. I’m not afraid to be different!
1943 – 1970
My name is Billie Jean King. I love
to play tennis. When I was young
there was no organization for
women’s tennis. I started the
Women’s Tennis Association. In
1973 I played Bobby Riggs in “The
Battle of the Sexes,” and I won! I
believe a woman can play any
sport as well as a man.
1943 – Present
My name is Shannon Eastin. I am the first woman to be a referee in the National Football League
(NFL). I have been a referee for 17 years. I am also a judo fighter. When I was eleven years old they
invited me to train at the U.S. Olympic Training Center.
1970 – Present
My name is Temple Grandin. I care about animals and
I understand the way their minds work. I am making
changes in animal agriculture to make the animal’s
lives better. I have autism, which means I see and feel
things in a different way. I help teachers understand
how to work with children who have autism like me.
1947 – Present
My name is Annie Leibovitz. I am a photographer. I take photographs of famous people, and I
work for famous magazines such as Rolling Stone and Vanity Fair. I have taken pictures of John
Lennon, Johnny Depp, Demi Moore, Barack Obama, Rihanna, and many, many more! I don’t take
pictures of people because they are famous. I take pictures of them because I respect their work.
1949 – Present
My name is Wilma Mankiller. I am Cherokee
Indian. I am the first woman to become Chief
of the Cherokee Nation. I helped the
Cherokee community take back control of its
businesses and schools from the U.S.
government. Now the Cherokee Nation has a
good relationship with the U.S. government.
1945 – 2010
My name is Janet Jackson. I am a famous singer and
dancer. I sing soul, hip-hop and pop music. My songs
are about my life, being a woman, and social
injustices that I see in the world. My music is very
popular, and now I am one of the richest woman
artists in the world. You know my brother, Michael
Jackson!
1966 – Present
My name is Sally Ride. I am the first woman to
travel to outer space. I was only 32 years old! I
am also the youngest American to travel in
space. Afterwards I started an organization
called Sally Ride Science. We give materials to
school to teach math and science to boys and
girls. I also like to write books for children
about science.
1951 – 2012
My name is Danica Patrick. I am
a NASCAR car racer. I started
racing when I was 10 years old. I
win races that no woman has
won before. I am also an actress
on television and a model.
1982 – Present
My name is Sandra Cisneros. My family is from
Mexico, and when I was a girl we lived in Mexico
and the United States. Now I am a writer. I write
about the lives of young Mexican-American
women. My most famous book is a book for young
people called “The House on Mango Street.”
1954 – Present
My name is Condoleezza Rice. I am
the first woman to be National
Security Advisor to the President of
the United States and the second
woman to be Secretary of State. I
worked with President George W.
Bush. I am interested in helping
the countries in the Middle East
develop democracy.
1954 – Present
My name is Sonia Sotomayor. My family is
from Puerto Rico and I grew up in New York
City. In 2009, President Barack Obama made
me a judge on the Supreme Court, the most
important court in the United States. I am
only the third woman and the first Latina to
sit on the court.
1954 – Present