In this week of class we discussed and looked at young women activists. It was quite inspiring to hear the many stories of young women who made huge impacts for important causes they are fighting for. Emma reports on labor issues for an independent, public access television show in Vancouver. Nenetzin stands in the center of the plaza, she sings a song about remembering those who have died due to poverty. Pitu a member of a youth group, a subsection of the organization where youth participants gather together to talk and learn from each other, and to work on their own projects or assist in the various facets of the organization’s operation. Lisette’s dedication to fighting against environmental racism and for community health and safety finally paid off in the summer of 2001. Sunaina Maira and Elisabeth Soep refer to as “youthscapes.” They organize around a wide variety of issues.
We also presented about more famous young activists like Malala Yousafzai, Sophie Cruz, and Marley Diaz. Malala Yousafzai was shot by the Taliban after publicly speaking out about her fight to protect girls’ education. After surviving the attack she went on to share her story around the world and launched the Malala Fund in 2013 with her father to raise awareness. In addition to being an activist, 20-year-old Yousafzai is a published author, a United Nations Messenger of Peace and in 2014 she became the youngest person ever to receive a Nobel pice prize the Nobel Peace Prize.
In 2015, 5-year-old Cruz broke through security to give Pope Francis a letter in which she asked that her parents, who are undocumented immigrants, not be deported from the United States. In the letter, she asked that Pope Francis speak with the President and Congress about the issue and said that she would soon be sending a letter to President Obama.
At 13 years old, Dias is the founder of #1000blackgirlbooks, a campaign that she started in 2015 with the goal to collect and donate 1,000 books to her peers that featured black girls as the main characters. To date, she has collected more than 10,000 books and spoke alongside Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey at the United State of Women Summit in 2016. This past January, she released her own book, “Marley Dias Gets it Done and So Can You”. The book features opening remarks and praise from Hillary Clinton, Ellen DeGeneres and filmmaker Ava DuVernay.
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