The 2023 Women’s History Month theme is “Celebrate Women Who Tell Our Stories.” We are highlighting women storytellers who work in print, radio, TV, podcasts and other media.
Meet six women who have told our stories to the world.
- Nikole Hannah-Jones (1976–present) is an investigative reporter covering racial injustice and civil rights for The New York Times. She is the creator of The 1619 Project and the picture book The 1619 Project, Born on the Water. She has won numerous awards and co-founded the Ida B. Wells Society for Investigative Reporting. See Jones in the Hoopla documentary East Lake Meadows: A Public Housing Story.
- Jenny Zhang (1983–present) is a writer, poet and essayist. Her books explore different perspectives on current and sensitive topics including identity, extreme poverty, sexual assault and the immigrant experience. In her 2017 short story collection, Sour Heart, Zhang writes about the complex relationships within Chinese-American families. Find books by Jenny Zhang.
- Wilma Mankiller (1945–2010) was an activist and the first woman elected chief of a major Native American tribe. She also founded the Community Development Department for the Cherokee Nation. Her activism was informed by a belief in collective community action for the common good. Watch The Cherokee Word for Water series on Kanopy featuring Wilma Makiller and read books by and about Wilma Mankiller.
- Gabby Rivera (1982–present) is an LGBTQ+ youth advocate and the first Latin woman to write for Marvel Comics. Rivera’s series America features America Chavez as the first Latina lesbian teen superhero in the Marvel universe. Rivera focuses on centering joy in the narratives about LGBTQ+ and people of color. Find books by Gabby Rivera.
- Anna Pauline “Pauli” Murray (1910–1985) was a civil rights activist, lawyer, author, gender equality advocate and priest. She was the first woman to receive a Doctor of Juridical Science degree from Yale Law School. She worked to change laws about segregation and women’s rights. Murray published two autobiographies and a poetry collection. Read books by and about Pauli Murray.
- Joy Harjo (1951–present) has written poetry books, plays, memoirs and children’s books. An American Sunrise is a collection of poems about the Mvskoke people. She is the first Native American to serve as Poet Laureate for the United States and served three terms. Find books by Joy Harjo.
Discover more women who are telling our stories with these My Librarian book recommendations.