Women's History Month and Fostering Passion
The month of March marks Women’s History Month and today, March 8th, is International Women’s Day. The month is celebrated in a variety of ways all around the country. Some people engage in organized group activities while others use it as a time to shine the spotlight on the women who have made priceless and invaluable contributions to the world. One of the aspects about Women’s History Month is that women have done, and continue to do, so many wonderful things and contribute so much to the world that people can observe the month in ways that are unique to their personal experience.
Books are easily the most consistent and valuable pastime on this side, so combining the love of books and literature with women writers makes the most sense. When it comes to books, the list of women who have given their souls to the written word and brought pages to life in my life is long and vast. Women such as Elaine Brown, Sonia Sotomayor, Amy Chua, and Assata Shakur as well as others such as Harper Lee, Beverly Tatum and Suzanne Collins have written stories which can stand the test of ten lifetimes. Without their contributions to the game, my reading experience would be incomplete.
With that said, the goal this month is to only read books, articles and any other literature written by women. It presents a challenge only in the sense that a priority is made to read one of my best friend’s work anytime it is published. Still, he’ll understand that his stuff will have to wait until April 1st. The first book this month was “In the Time of the Butterflies,” by Julia Alvarez, which was finished last night. Next up is “Women, Race and Class,” by Angela Davis and the hope is to finish that one in time to start and finish “Dark Money,” by Jane Mayer by the end of the month.
Reading is my passion and finding a way to merge a passion with Women’s History Month makes sense. Besides, whatever any person’s passion is, it can likely be traced to the presence of a woman sparking the passion in the first place. It’s the least that can be done to observe, as well as fully and enthusiastically celebrate, 31 days in March.