“I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be done does away with fear.”
—Rosa Parks (1913-2005), civil rights activist
STANDARDS
Common Core: RH.6-8.4, RH.6-8.6, WHST.6-8.4, RI.6-8.4, RI.6-8.6, W.6-8.4
NCSS: Individuals, Groups, and Institutions • Power, Authority, and Governance • Civic Ideals and Practices
Just the Facts
Listen Up!
In honor of Women’s History Month, get inspired by these words of wisdom from some noteworthy women.
“I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be done does away with fear.”
—Rosa Parks (1913-2005), civil rights activist
“We must use our lives to make the world a better place to live, not just to acquire things. That is what we are put on the earth for.”
—Dolores Huerta (1930- ), labor leader and civil rights activist
“Real change, enduring change, happens one step at a time.”
—Ruth Bader Ginsburg (1933-2020), U.S. Supreme Court justice
“Technique and ability alone do not get you to the top; it is the willpower that is the most important.”
—Junko Tabei (1939-2016), mountaineer; first woman to reach the top of the Seven Summits, the highest mountain on each continent
“Cows run away from the storm while the buffalo charges toward it—and gets through it quicker. Whenever I’m confronted with a tough challenge . . . I become the buffalo.”
—Wilma Mankiller (1945-2010), first female chief of a major Native American tribe
“I raise up my voice—not so that I can shout but so that those without a voice can be heard. . . . We cannot all succeed when half of us are held back.”
—Malala Yousafzai (1997- ), activist for human rights and girls’ education
Write About It! Choose a quote from this page that stands out to you. Use your own words to summarize what the woman is saying. Then explain how you can follow her advice in your life.