Gloria Steinem is known as one of the prevalent figures in the midst of the Women's Civil Rights movements. Born March 25, 1934 in Toledo, Ohio, grew around her encounters of the discrimination of women. On the brink of Steinem's birth, her mother, Ruth Steinem, went through the motions of a "nervous breakdown".  Long after the birth of her daughter, Ruth never reverted to her old personality becoming unstable for actions as great as carrying a job. Throughout her childhood Steinem observed the mistreatment of women through experiences with her mentally ill mother.  After the great amounts of travel Steinem experienced as a child, the divorce of her parents, at age ten, ended the chaotic cycle of life for her. Gloria and her mother settled down in Toledo where she finished out the last six years of her schooling prior to college.

After graduating from high school, Gloria attended Smith College, pursuing studies in government. She completed her degree in 1956, graduating at the top of her class.  Aside from graduation, Gloria dealt with an illegal abortion after learning she was pregnant.  Upon finishing school, Steinem delved into the field of journalism. Throughout the 1960’s she aided in the creation of the New York magazine where she wrote a column on politics.  Surrounded by the atmosphere of journalism it came to Steinem’s attention that there was a bias towards women in the workforce.  However she continued on with journalism, going undercover as a “bunny” at the New York City Playboy Club in 1963.  This project resulted in the publishing of an expose on her experiences as a “bunny”  in Show magazine.

Steinem’s interest in the feminist movement did not fully develop until 1969 when covering a story on abortion hearings presented the feminist group Redstockings.  At this time she realized that all of her experiences of discrimination and harassment were not isolated incidents; women everywhere were experiencing the same nature of mistreatment and hardship. At this point Steinem began writing essays expressing her feminist views with various titles such as, “After Black Power, Women’s Liberation”.  Then in 1971 she joined fellow feminists to form the National Women’s Political Caucus,  “a pro-choice, multicultural, intergenerational, and multi-issue grassroots organization dedicated to increasing women’s participation in the political process and creating a true women’s political power base to achieve equality for all women.”

In ‘71 Steinem took it upon herself to pursue the launch of a feminist magazine, making a first step with the publish of an insert in New York magazine.  The following year the first independent issue of Ms. magazine was released, with Steinem as a co-founder.  The magazine gained popularity, continuing to be a resource for women today.  Steinem continued with her spread of feminist agenda making appearances to deliver speeches and continuing on to progressively publish new writings from the early 80’s to the 90’s.  In 1986 Steinem was diagnosed with breast cancer, yet had a brief treatment process which eliminated the illness.  As of 2000 she married the late David Bale, a feat she swore since her younger years that she would never comply to.

Gloria Steinem is 82 years old today and still sharing words on feminism and equality through interview and writing.

Sources

http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/28/us/gloria-steinem-fast-facts/

http://www.biography.com/people/gloria-steinem-9493491

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gloria_Steinem#cite_note-OutrageousActs-20

http://www.nwpc.org/about/

http://saltedscarletry.com/2013/11/21/gloria-steinem-awarded-medal-freedom-entire-womens-movement/

Timeline

• 1934, Born in Toledo, Ohio

• 1956, Graduated from Smith College

• 1963, Writes expose for Show magazine on the New York City Playboy Club

• 1969, Reported on abortion hearings conducted by Redstockings, a feminist organization. This lead to her increase of involvement in the feminist movement

• 1971, Formed the National Women’s Political Caucus

• 1972, First independent issue of Ms. Magazine is launched

• 1983, Published “Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions”

• 1986, Diagnosed with breast cancer

• 1993, Inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame

• 2000, Steinem married David Bale

• 2013, Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom

Article:

Janet Mock is one of the largest names in transgender activism today. When you Google her, the first examples to appear are ones describing her popular accomplishments. Her recent New York Times bestselling autobiography, Redefining Realness, is one example. Another is her being listed as part of various lists of influential people in oppressed communities, such as the OUT 100 and Trans 100. But these results do not give you the full picture of Mock: a fierce and determined activist with a lot of personability and patience.

Mock was born in Honolulu, Hawaii to a black father and native Hawaiian mother. She began her transition in high school and funded her medical transition by being a sex worker in her teens. She has a Bachelor in Fashion Merchandising and a Masters in Journalism. Growing up, she was assigned male and addressed as such, but started to explore her gender identity further at 12, despite her father’s strict gender policing. Since then, she has grown into a passionate activist for the black, transgender, and women movements. Mock is the host of So POPular! -- a weekly MSNBC digital series about modern culture, and is the founder of #GirlsLikeUs, a social media project that empowers trans* women. TIME called Mock “one of the 12 new faces of black leadership” and “one of the most influential people on the Internet”, while Fast Company named her one of 2015’s “most creative people in business”. Mock is also an editor for Marie Claire magazine and a correspondent for Entertainment Tonight. But what is there to Mock besides her accomplishments?
As a trans* writer, watching Janet Mock is both an amazing and frustrating experience for me personally. When Mock is interviewed by cisgender hosts who are not careful with the language they use surrounding her past, it is personally uncomfortable for me to witness. As Laverne Cox, another black transgender woman activist, said: “Calling a trans woman a man is an act of violence.” One example of this insensitivity is a segment with Piers Morgan, in which he repeatedly gave his superficial understanding of what being transgender feels like, instead of respectfully learning about her life, which was his job.

The kind of blatant and tactless dissection and sensationalization of trans* people’s bodies in the media is one that has been a focal point of Mock’s movement. For instance, the Piers Morgan segment was captioned by, “Was a boy until 18” (the age Mock underwent sex reassignment surgery) and “How would you feel if the woman you are dating was formerly a man?” Mock has written countless critiques of this kind of wording, explaining that these statements are invasive and assumptive, pointing toward Mock’s gender like an accusation and an entertainment point. A more respectful way to phrase these subtitles would be, “Janet Mock: Transgender Activist and Writer.” This is the difference between treating a guest like a professional instead of a sideshow. Yet Janet Mock was criticized and attacked for her “immature” reaction, assuming that Mock would be grateful to even get the chance to speak on a major television outlet. Despite it all, she has remained an unbattered and fearless advocate for her cause.

One of the most impressive aspects of Mock’s activism is her consistent acknowledge of privilege, even her own. In her book Redefining Realness, she says: “I have been held up consistently as a token, as the “right” kind of trans woman (educated, able-bodied, attractive, articulate, heteronormative). It promotes the delusion that because I “made it”, that level of success if easily accessible to all young trans women. Let’s be clear: It is not.” This activism is one that not only inspires but engages all people on the issue of trans* rights and respect, and empowers trans* youth, especially young women. By maintaining both a self righteous air in order to gain respect and a selfless love for her community, Janet Mock has successfully built a dynasty of empowered youth and challenged allies in her wake. I am here for it.

Citations:

1. Hess, Amanda. "Piers Morgan’s Interview with Janet Mock Was Not a Failure of Sensitivity. It Was a Failure of Reporting." Slate.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Mar. 2016 http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2014/02/07/_piers_morgan_s_janet_mock_interview_why_journalists_get_coverage_of_the.html

2. "Janet Mock Quotes." Janet Mock Quotes (Author of Redefining Realness). N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Mar. 2016. https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/5388148.Janet_Mock

3. "About." Janet Mock. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Mar. 2016. http://janetmock.com/bio/

Timeline:

March 10, 1983: Janet Mock is born in Honolulu, Hawaii.

2001: Mock undergoes sex reassignment surgery in Thailand at 18.

2006: Before this date, Mock graduates the University of Hawaii at Manoa with a Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Merchandising, and in 2006, graduates NYU with a Master of Arts in Journalism.

2011: Janet Mock comes out as publicly transgender in a problematic Marie Claire article written by Kierna Mayo from Mock’s point of view. Becomes an editor at Marie Claire despite her critique of the piece. Submits a video for the It Gets Better project. Mock is featured in a 2011 documentary called Dressed.

2012: Mock’s first book, Redefining Realness, is signed by Atria Books. Mock starts a Twitter hashtag (#GirlsLikeUs) to empower transgender women. Mock gives the Lavender Commencement keynote speech honoring LGBT students at the University of Southern California. Mock serves as co-chair, nominee and presenter at the 2012 GLAAD Media Awards.:

November 2012: Mock receives her Sylvia Rivera Activist Award from the Sylvia Rivera Law Project.

June 27, 2013: Janet Mock is featured in an LGBT community called The OUT List. Mock joins the board of directors of the Arcus Foundation.

February, 2014: Redefining Realness is released.

2014: Mock leaves job at People.com and hosts Take Part Live, So POPular! (her own weekly digital series), the Global Citizen Festival, guest hosts the Melissa Harris-Perry show, covers the White House Correspondents Dinner’s red carpet for Shift, and is a correspondent for Entertainment Tonight. Featured on the fifth anniversary cover of CANDY magazine.

Following the conviction of Monica Jones, a trans woman of color, Mock joins a campaign against a law in Pheonix that targets Black and Latina transgender women (“manifesting prostitution”).

2015: Mock delivers the commencement address for Pitzer College. In April, Mock makes a guest appearance on Oprah Winfrey’s Super Soul Sunday for a segment called Becoming Your Most Authentic Self. In September, she makes another appearance where she discusses Embracing the Otherness.

March 2016: Mock cancels a speech at Brown University after students protested the invitation by Hillel, a Jewish organization.

More Than A Wife!

   Coretta Scott King; born April 27, 1927. She was best known as the wife of the infamous Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., but the titles that she held were far more impacting than the title of a wife. Mrs. King was an influential speaker, strong advocate for the civil rights movement, as well as an activists for women's rights. Mrs. King. Some may assume that her desire for these things came from her husband who was so passionate about these topics, but that’s not exactly the case, Coretta Scott King had an upbringing that provoked these ideas far before her marriage to Dr. King. Coretta grew up in a time when segregation was at its prime. Children went to different schools, people patronized establishments with different rules, people of color were in the back whether it be a bus, walking through doors, attending sporting events, and etc. As a young child, she attended a school that was about 5 miles away. The school was located in one small room at Crossroad School which was located in her hometown of Marlon, Alabama.  Her injustices began early. As she walked that long five miles every morning, she saw young white children having the privilege of catching a bus to school although their schools were closer to their homes. Coretta didn’t let these things affect her education; she continued to prosper while managing to be Valedictorian at her high school graduation and receiving a scholarship from Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio.  

   In the midst of Coretta Scott King receiving her education she became involved with Civil Rights. As she proceeded to do so, she met her soon to be husband, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. They continued to do their work and became heavily involved with the Rosa Parks event that has become a historical memory. Mrs. King’s participation in such events eventually gave her the title, “The First Lady Of Civil Rights”. As she progressed with her advocacy for civil rights, her passion for gender equality then became more apparent. She was a woman who had the pleasure to be the first to do a few things. Coretta was the first woman to deliver the Class Day address at Harvard University. She was also the first woman to preach at a statutory service at St. Paul's Cathedral in London. Along with those accomplishments she had the opportunity to serve as the Women's Strike for Peace delegate to the 17-nation Disarmament Conference in Geneva, Switzerland. Her impact was becoming global. Mrs. Coretta Scott King established over 100 organizations which included business, religion, labor, as well as civil and women's rights. The point of the organizations were to urge the rights for equality among all of those categories. As she continued her part she continued to be rewarded. In 1988, she served as head of the U.S. delegation of Women for a Meaningful Summit in Athens, Greece and in 1990, Mrs. King was co-convener of the Soviet-American Women’s Summit in Washington, DC.

Essay:

Carol Burnett was the first woman ever to have a comedy variety show. “The Carol Burnett Show” was on air during the women's lib movement. Even though the message she sent, or jokes she made were not specifically about women's right, the fact that she had a show is strong enough to prove that she was an activist for women's rights. Because of Brunette female comedians that are around today like Tina Fey, Mindy Kaling, Tig Notaro, and so many others are able to do the wonderful things they do with less backlash (although unfortunately still some). Burnett Also helped Vicki Lawrence, a female comedian of her time, because she was one of the other actors on the show.

Having her own show did not come easy however. NBC Told her that she should not have the show, telling her that it was “a man's game”. But that did not stop her, she pushed on and had an amazingly successful show. In her comedy and in her life, Carol Burnett pretty much did what she wanted. That’s how she was such a funny person, and also successful. She would not give in to what other people told her, she was strong and persistent, working till she got what she wanted and what she knew was right.

Burnett was also influential because she set an example for how the world should be. Women can be just as funny as men, and she proved that. In fact, she never had to say it because her actions proved that it was true. Her show was not about women's issues, but it was around at a time when a lot of women's issues were being fought for. Carol Burnett was a living example of what so many women at that time were fighting for, and to make thing better, she was amazingly funny.

Timeline

April 26, 1933 - Born

1955 - First went on TV. She appeared on The Paul Winchell and Jerry Mahoney Show

1957 - Went on the Tonight show with Jack Paar.

1957 - Went on the Ed Sullivan Show.

1959 - Acted in a show on Broadway. The musical was called Once Upon a Mattress.

1959 - 1962 - Was a regular actress and cast member on The Garry Moore Show. During her

time on the show she won her first Emmy.

1963 - Apparent in her very first movie, Who’s Been Sleeping in my Bed?

September 1967 - Her show, The Carol Burnett Show, first airs.

1975 - Carol Burnett is given a star on the Walk of Fame.

1978 - Burnett ends her The Carol Burnett Show. Throught the ears she on 5 Golden Globes and 5 Emmy Awards.

Bibliography:

Duca, Lauren. "Carol Burnett Is A Feminist Hero Whether She Knows It Or Not." Huffington Post. Http://www.huffingtonpost.com, 22 Sept. 2015. Web. 28 Mar. 2016.

"Career Timeline." PBS. PBS, 05 Nov. 2007. Web. 04 Apr. 2016.

"Carol Burnett Biography." - Childhood, Life Achievements & Timeline. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Apr. 2016

Poster:

Angela Yvonne Davis is an African-American female born on January 26, 1944 in the South. Particularly in Birmingham, Alabama. I think being born during this time period and in this particular place it progressed her fight for equal rights. She is well known for her activism under gender equality, civil rights and political issues dating back to the earliest dates of the late 1960s. Her activism sheet would stand as long from being jailed, removed from buildings, joining “radical” organizations and groups to even leading The Black Liberation Movement. The movement, or rather army according to Wikipedia, states that it was a run-off/continuation of the Black Panther Movement.

Ms. Davis is in movies and is also a well-known book writer on the exact issues that she has been though and fought for all her life. Her first book was published in 1974 titled as, Angela Davis: An Autobiography. Over 42 years she has written 11 books and one that was published this year! From titles like The Black Family: The Ties That Bind (By Angela Davis and Fania Davis), Women, Culture and Politics (Angela Davis) and Beyond the Frame: Women of Color and Visual Representation (Angela Davis) it is clear that she talks about topics we have surface leveled discussions about in class. She has a career currently at the University of California: Santa Cruz teaching under the title of Distinguished Professor Emerita in the Feminist Studies Department.

Through my research, I’ve come to learn that Ms. Davis still speaks out about her struggles through the political black movement in the 70s and 60s. As her number one movement sparking debate and a sentence of 18 months in jail for being linked to a murder of a jail guard by an associate, George Lester Jackson. Him and a few others were also later a part of The Black Liberation Movement with Davis. Yet, prior to this correspondence she was apart of the Che-Lumumba Club branch in the Communist Party. So this association to the party progressed her charges in the 18 month sentence.

In conclusion, Angela Yvonne Davis was a prominent figure in the change and advancement of women, race, class and culture all over the spectrum.  Beginning in the 16th Street Baptist Church Bombing in Birmingham, to which she lost friends in up to today’s fight for equality. Although she is 72 she still speaks out to the public, writes books and poetry that all talk about the same problems she was addressing 42 years ago to date her first writing. This goes to show that our problems and things that were heavily fought for by many African-Americans, Women and Low/Middle-Class citizens haven’t changed very much. My mother is 46 and in terms of the amount of years Ms. Davis has written proves that many Americans, specifically African-Americans have lived through this fight since we were born. It was sparked before you and I were in this world, it is continuing as we live through it now and it is a chance that it will still be here after you and I perish. The only way to change this is by fighting and voicing our opinion for justice and equal rights just as Angela Davis does still today.

Works Cited

1. History.com Staff. "Angela Davis." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 01 Jan. 2009. Web. 24 Mar. 2016. <http://www.history.com/topics/black-history/angela-davis>.

2. "Angela Davis." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2016. <http://www.biography.com/people/angela-davis-9267589#early-life>.

3. "Angela Y Davis." Feminist Studies. University of California: Santa Cruz, n.d. Web. 28 Mar. 2016. <http://feministstudies.ucsc.edu/faculty/singleton.php?singleton=true&cruz_id=aydavis>.

4. "Angela Davis on Not Endorsing Any Presidential Candidate: "I Think We Need a New Party"" Democracy Now! N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Mar. 2016. <http://www.democracynow.org/2016/3/28/angela_davis_on_the_fascist_appeal>.

5. Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 28 Mar. 2016. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Liberation_Army>.

6. "Angela Davis Resource Guide: Publications by Angela Davis." Publications by Angela Davis. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Mar. 2016. <http://guides.library.cornell.edu/davis/publications>.

Timeline

1. 1963: Angela was dearly affected by the Birmingham church bombing. In addition she formed the ideas very young that she wanted to help those who were black and poor, later noted in her book.

2. 1968: Angela joined the Communist party (Che-Lumumba Club) and was also question to being in the Black Panther Party. However, the sources on her association with the group was never documented or proven.

1. “the only path of liberation for black people is that which leads toward complete and radical overthrow of the capitalist class.”

3. 1969: UCLA of Santa Cruz tried to fire her illegally for her affiliation to the communist party.

4. 1970: Davis is arrested for a connection to the Soledad Brothers and the conspiracy of helping the kidnapping and murder of a guard. Sparking a worldwide protest and political campaign for her freedom.

5. 1981: She is acquitted of her charges about 8 years earlier and writes a book titled “Women, Race and Class.”

6. 1983: Angela seem to be on a streak of presenting the world with books about gender equality. She then drops a book titled “Femmes, race et classe.” Which I have inferred, from her trip to Paris back in the 1960s, she learned and titled the book in French. I question if it is in actual French although.

7. 1985: It begins to seem like every 2 or so years Ms. Davis publishes another beautiful book about her analysis on gender, race and culture in America + the entire world. This time she produces a text called “Violence Against Women And The Ongoing Challenge To Racism.”

8. 1989: Davis continues her flow of writing books by publishing “Women, Culture and Politics.”

9. 2006: Being that Davis has been an activist for gender, race and culture it’s not surprising that she dedicated one book to specifically children of color. To input that it is a girls’ children of color book titled “Prinsetta.” It details how to deal with prejudice, low-self esteem and even teasing, according to Google Books.

10. 2012: Angela Davis speaks in an interview about gender, equality and racism at the Hotel Metropole Brussels on May, 15th 2012.

1. “The wages that men receive compared to women, if one looks at women of color (black women) or latino women, the education achievement, the job achievements… All the issues that you see there, there is proud inequality.”

Creative Piece

• I will do a poster for my creative piece

”Each strand of her curls, stands for every fascinating thing Angela has done!”

Angelina Jolie

Angelina Jolie a great person in many ways, known mostly for her acting. Yet the way she carries herself and the way she works with herself and her family and the media in her life; she is doing great! She is a person that is admired in many ways for she has great standards and tells things to people the way it is, she uses her platform to advocate for others. She is a great feminist and believes that women should have a strong sense of self for they can do anything and should be treated in that way also; meaning equally. She also pushes back on beauty standards and thinks that women are not needed to be a certain way in order to a women; she thinks all women are beautiful the way they are and there should not be certain standards. She is also a great fan of individuality. She takes her own accomplishments and reflects, telling others that they can be who they are no matter how different you are, for different is good. In a way she seems like a feminist genius for the thoughts and ideas in her are great and full of meaning.

An actress, UN diplomat, and  philanthropist. Angelina Jolie has proved herself to be a great person to the public and her family many times. “According to a poll conducted by YouGov, Jolie topped the list of 25,000 people in 23 countries. Many familiar names popped up on the list, and under Jolie, such as Malala Yousafzai, Hillary Clinton, The Queen, Michelle Obama, Celine Dion, Oprah Winfrey, Julia Roberts, Aung San Suu Kyi, and Angela Merkel” says Bustle.com.  Angelina Jolie has a character in which many do not have. She has the heart and soul in order to be honored greatly by many. Inspiring many to be who they are today and do certain actions. Many women have been inspired by her for the great health stance she has brought upon many. Jolie revealed how the health decision empowered her as a women while encouraging others. She empowered women to come forward with their own breast cancer stories and to take better care of their health. Jolie chose to share her double-mastectomy story while most would not have, changing the face of breast cancer awareness in many ways.   

While many women and men have come together in many different ways in order to improve and give a positive impact towards gender equality. Many that are similar ways and many different. Jolie creates a positive impact in gender equality for she tells women that they can be free to be who they are. Jolie has many strong cores that she tries to show people in order to create equality. While her strongest and passion to show to women is for women to take control of their health and for no one to make them feel less like a women. Her second most strongest stance is to show women of all ages to not feel like they have to follow society's footsteps but that they can be different. For women to be who they strive to be. “I am writing about it now because I hope that other women can benefit from my experience. Cancer is still a word that strikes fear into people’s hearts, producing a deep sense of powerlessness. But today it is possible to find out through a blood test whether you are highly susceptible to breast and ovarian cancer, and then take action.” A quote that comes from Jolie, she wrote a piece about women and cancer titled “My Medical Choice” which then was published on ‘New York Times.’ Jolie has given women a new hope that shines through to get the right needed medical information they need in order to be healthy. While most women at first did not go through their health problems so much for it made them seem like womanly to others, at least that is how society has put it. Yet Jolie has taught that you must take care of yourself and nothing is wrong with that.

Jolie does not have one cause towards improving and help equality and women but she has many. One that is she strong about is female refugee. “Alongside Foreign secretary William Hague, last year Jolie held a global Summit which welcomed over 100 countries and 900 experts which aimed to help find an end to sexual violence in conflict. As well as visiting women affected by sex crimes in war torn countries and listening to their experiences, Jolie recently opened a centre to fight warzone violence against women – the first of its type in Europe.” A quote taken from In Style.co.uk a news blog from the UK. While her endless campaigning to help female refuges in many places, she tries her best to tell girls and women of all types and ages to do their best and not to worry about the society. To do what they feel is right and to get to the goals they want. Jolie has a mission to share with women all over that they deserve equality and justice. She inspires women to stand up for what they need and want, including health needs. For women to do what they need, and not to feel less like a woman, and Jolie shows how women should not live up to a standard but to just be who she wants to be.

Sites Used:

• http://www.bustle.com/articles/62003-4-feminist-angelina-jolie-quotes-that-show-why-shes-the-most-admired-woman-in-the-world

• http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/14/opinion/my-medical-choice.html?_r=0&module=ArrowsNav&contentCollection=Opinion&action=keypress&region=FixedLeft&pgtype=article

• http://www.instyle.co.uk/celebrity/news/why-angelina-jolie-is-the-ultimate-millennial-feminist

Bonnie Thornton Dill

By: Nyla

Bonnie Thornton Dill is the dean of the College of Arts and Humanities, professor of Women’s Studies, and a scholar who studied and continues to study race, class, and gender intersectionality in the U.S with a focus on African American women, families, and work. Along with her other amazing qualities, she is also an author who has written numerous articles and books.

As a young girl, Bonnie was raised by her mother, an English teacher, father, a pharmacist in Englewood, Chicago. She attended University of Chicago Laboratory School where she called the experience,  “I lived in two worlds—a white intellectual world and a black social world.” For college, she attended the University of Rochester where she was among the first African Americans to live in one of their residence halls. Her stay at the university was in the thick of the Civil Rights Movement. She put her leadership skills in action and organized a chapter called Friends of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee which helped to expand voting rights in the south. She ultimately switched her major from pre-med to English where she traveled to England to further her studies.

After she graduated from college, she moved to New York and worked for the Office of Economic Opportunity, an agency that is in charge of programs that work with President Lyndon Johnson’s War on Poverty. She said the experience helped her start thinking about the role of social class in America. Her research on domestic workers was completed in 1979 and was published in 1994. The groundbreaking book was entitled”Across the Boundaries of Race and Class: An Exploration of Work and Family Among Black Female Domestic Servants”.  It was one of the first books that studied black female household labor that was based on interviews of workers themselves.

Since her book, she has made many other life accomplishments and is now the dean of the University of Maryland’s department College of Arts and Humanities.

Bonnie Thornton Hill Timeline:

1965 - B.A. from New York University

1970 - M.A.

1979 - Ph.D and wrote first book

1994 - “Across the Boundaries of Race and Class: An Exploration of Work and Family Among Black Female Domestic Servants” was published

2009 - Appointed Stanley Kelley, Jr. Visiting Professor for Distinguished Teaching in the Department of Sociology at Princeton University Award

2010-2012 - President of National Women’s Studies Association

Present - dean of the College of Arts and Humanities and professor of Women’s Studies.

These other events do not have a specific date but they are very important points in her life

1. Chairwoman for Women Studies Department at University of Maryland for 8 years

2. Created two intersectionality research centers

3. Founding Director for Center of Research on Women at University of Memphis and Founding Director of the Consortium on Race, Gender, and Ethnicity at the University of Maryland.

4. Vice President of the American Sociological Association

5. Chair of the Advisory Board of Scholars for Ms. Magazine

Creative Piece: http://prezi.com/smhdxltirhdr/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy

   Elton John is an openly gay singer who is legendary in the music industry. He has sold hundreds of millions of albums, and has recently released an album. He has influenced music greatly, and has albums on Rolling Stone’s 500 greatest albums list. But there was definitely more that he has done to help people. He entertained people, but he did, and still does, much more then that. He is a music legend, but we cannot forgot that he is an LGBT and Humanitarian legend as well.

     Elton John used to be with a woman. His first lover was a woman, but he ended up coming out as bisexual in the 1970s. That was such a strong move for that time period because homosexuality was not really accepted back during that time, and same sex marriage was definitelnot legalized. In fact, a gay governor named Milk was killed due to being gay. This was not normal for artists to do at all. So, he did that. Later, he even took it a step further. In the 1980s, after divorcing his wife, he came out as being openlyb gay. He said he liked being gay, and that’s how he wanted to live. That was so brave for the time. Homosexuality was not viewed positively, and others were blaming gays for AIDS. It was not the most loving time for LGBT rights, yet Elton John still came out and lived openly gay.

       Elton John also supported the rights of gays and lesbians throughout his career, and not just by being gay, but the actions he took as well. After being with his husband David for 12 years, Elton John had a civil union with him, and was the first to do it in his country, which is the UK. It was a historical moment. Elton John always stayed true to the gay community. When he did not support marriages, he supported civil unions. Then, he eventually said he was for gay marriage, and then actually got married. He has called for the boycott of 2 gay men’s fashion line after they said that gays should not be adopting kids. He is really down for the cause. He also wants to talk to Vladimir Putin about his anti-lgbt laws.

         In the 80s, AIDS was a huge deal and very rampant. Elton John slept around a lot at that time, and he felt lucky to not have gotten AIDS. So what he did was create an organization to stop AIDS. He has raised millions upon millions trying to cure this disease. Elton John is clearly a champion for LGBT and human rights.

MLA Sources

John, Elton. "Elton John: The Historic Fight for Equality Must Go On. Let's Get on and Legalise Same-sex Marriage." The Independent. Independent Digital News and Media, 8 Oct. 2012. Web. 31 Mar. 2016. <http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/elton-john-the-historic-fight-for-equality-must-go-on-lets-get-on-and-legalise-same-sex-marriage-8202686.html>.\

Kealey, Helena. "Sir Elton John's Wedding: 11 Things You Might Have Missed." The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group, 22 Dec. 2014. Web. 31 Mar. 2016. <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/11309195/Sir-Elton-Johns-wedding-11-things-you-might-have-missed.html>.

Seib, Christine, and Tania Bryer. "I'll Press Queen and Putin on Anti-gay Laws: Elton John." CNBC. 04 Nov. 2015. Web. 31 Mar. 2016. <http://www.cnbc.com/2015/11/04/elton-john-aids-foundation-sets-up-pepfar-fund-focused-on-africa.html>.

Johnson, Ben. "Elton John Urges Boycott after Gay Designers Dolce and Gabbana Come out against Gay ‘marriage,’ Adoption." LifeSiteNews. 16 Mar. 2015. Web. 31 Mar. 2016. <https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/fashion-article>.

Timeline

Elton John Tiimeline

March 25, 1947- Elton John was born

Late 60s to 2016- Makes multiple successful albums and songs, becomes legendary, and get’s millions of album sales

1976- Elton John comes out as bisexual to Rolling Stone. He faced some horrific treatement due to this

1988- Elton John has announced that he is openly gay to rolling stone. He said that he was “more comfortable” living as a homosexual.

1990- Elton John goes to rehab to end his drug use. He has since helped many other artists get sober, such as Lady Gaga, Eminem, and Ed Sheeran.

1992- Elton John starts an orginization to help out AIDS victims

1993- Elton John had met David Furnish, and they became a couple

         Elton John hosted an event at the academy awards, and raised more then $200 million for        his charity

1994- Elton John is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

1995- Wins 3 academy awards for his lion king songs

2005- Elton John and David Furnish were one of the very first UK couples to have a civil union

2008- Elton John speaks in favor of gay couples having Civil Unions

2012- Elton John has become pro same-sex marriage.

2013- Elton John called for the boycott of 2 gay fashion designers who said that gays should not be adopting children

2014- Elton and David get married

2015- Elton John plans to go to Russia in order to discuss the anti-gay laws there

Creative Piece: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1fvZe3M2C9lBvO545PTQTo0ZI0-pwD_eYkdd2TKYi5X8/edit#slide=id.g12397ed715_0_19