Leadership Tuesdays: Civil Rights and Women Voices...Melissa Harris-Perry

“Citizenship is more than an individual exchange of freedoms for rights; it is also membership in a body politic, a nation, and a community. To be deemed fair, a system must offer its citizens equal opportunities for public recognition, and groups cannot systematically suffer from miser ignition in the form of stereotype and stigma.” 

-- Melissa V. Harris-Perry, Professor, Television Host, and Author, "Sister Citizen: Shame, Stereotypes, and Black Women in America"

http://tv.msnbc.com/shows/melissa-harris-perry/

Every other Tuesday, WOMEN AT LIBERTY presents Leadership Tuesdays, a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage, and strengthen women leaders. On this coming Saturday, America will celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the 1963 March On Washington. There on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial Dr. King delivered his famous "I Have A Dream Speech". Although there was a speech intended as a tribute to women, no women spoke that day. In pictures of Dr. King delivering the last speech of the day, we clearly see the late Dr. Dororthy I. Height, then president of the National Council of Negro Women, visible on the platform. Dr. Height is credited with being one of the leading women who behind the scenes orchestrated strategy and held the Civil Rights Movement together. Often seen wearing one of her signature hats, Dr. Height constantly used her voice to advocate for civil rights and equal opportunities for women and African Americans.

Today, women are more visible and have greater access to national platforms enabling them to have a greater impact on current issues. One of those women is Melissa Harris-Perry. A host of her own show on MSNBC, she is a professor of political science at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana and an author of Sister Citizen: Shame, Stereotypes, and Black Women in America. Melissa uses her voice to bring attention to stories that both raise our nation's consciousness and challenge political views that are harmful to women and others who are at risk in today's society. Today we highlight Dr. Harris-Perry, one of those women leaders who is using her voice and platform to make a difference. For more information on Dr. Harris-Perry's show, click here.

To read past Leadership Tuesdays' features on leaders like Lisa Price-Entrepreneur and Founder of Carol's Daughter, Laura Sen-President of BJ's Wholesale Club, and others, click here.


For more information on the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington taking place on August 24, go to: http://50thanniversarymarchonwashington.com


To read my personal reflections of my first March on Washington during the summer of 1983 and my subsequent involvement in civil right activities, click here. Coming up tomorrow on womenatliberty.com , "Now, 50 Years Later... Has The Dream Been Fulfilled?"