Women History Month Celebrates "The African American Woman"

In 1981, Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Rep. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) co-sponsored a joint Congressional resolution proclaiming a national Women's History Week. In 1987, Congress expanded the celebration to a month, and March was declared Women's History Month.Women History month is too recognized and celebrates the diverse and historic accomplishments of women,

In honor of this historic and yearly event, I would like to honor and celebrate the strong African American women in my family in pictures.

Coleman Women

From left to right my sister Ruby, Oldest sister Ruthie Lynn, Mom in the white and myself Lela

Grandmothers

Sallie Mae Thomas Coleman

Carrie Bell Cameron 1900-1991

My aunt Alyce Coleman 1936-1958

My beautiful sister Edna Faye Coleman July16, 1956 - April 27, 1999

Cousin Hazel Reed - Anderson 1935-2008

Great aunt Frances Cameron - Washington 1906-1960

Aunt Josie Lee Cameron-Washington 1923-2006

The Beautiful African American Woman

I am the great, great, great, great granddaughter of the slave,

I am of African decent

And have not always known

What that meant!

I am derived from the great African

Kings and Queens

And I am all of that it seems!

I have been told that we were sold

For no less gold than it takes to pay

Your toll!

My women ancestors were strong, bold, and intelligent.

They worked from sunup to sundown, raised their families, dealt with racism on

A daily basic, fought to keep their jobs but in the end

They were robbed.

Robbed of years of happiness and years of pay

And now here they lay, the beautiful African American woman in God's hand.

By Lela R. Coleman @2011