March 2018: Social Justice Activists Birthdays

Miriam Makeba 
​March 4, 1932 - November 9, 2008

A singer from South Africa who had dedicated her life to aiding her fellow Africans who had lived under the oppression of white colonialist who had settled in the country during the colonial era. She used her fame and talent to gain more traction in speaking out against White Supremacy that was all too prevalent in her country. In the ‘70s she was named the UN’s Goodwill Ambassador. While of course she is well known for her work as an activist she is best known for her art and bringing African styled music to the attention of western audiences.

​Cesar Chavez
March 31, 1922 - April 23, 1993

​One of the most famous political activist of the twentieth century, Cesar Chavez is best known for securing the rights of farmers who for the longest time had not been paid proper dues and who had been housed in conditions familiar to a serfdom. He was successful in his work because he had seen the inequality of the migrant farmer from his own perspective and was able to rally supporters through means of peaceful protests. An avid speaker against the Bracero Program that he saw as harmful to the rights of American migrant farmers. His work forced growers to make a number of concessions to their workforce.

​Virginia Minor
March 27, 1824 - August 14, 1894

A founder of the Women's Suffrage Association of Missouri (1867), which was the first organization for the enfranchisement of women in the world. She was also elected its first president in May of that same year. While the association had done many great things throughout its founding it was Minor’s legal case that brought her to national glory and historic fame. The case of Minor VS. Happersett gained so much national attention that the case went all the way to the top of the judicial pyramid. While the case was ultimately a defeat for the Suffragettes it laid the groundwork for future legal and political battles.