Inspired by the late Marielle Franco, more women, especially black women, are feeling encouraged to participate in politics.

Marielle Franco’s murder was not an ordinary crime but one with a triple meaning: It was an act of femicide, black genocide, and an act of silencing the downtrodden.

Lupe Valdez is a proud, lesbian Latina. Valdez’s represents other underrepresented Texan identities, too: She is the daughter of migrant workers. She is a veteran, a federal agent, and a former Dallas county sheriff. She is a gay women of color who wants to fight for LGBTQ+ rights and women’s rights.

As a kid, I did not understand queerness, although I undoubtedly embodied it in many ways. I wish I’d had an educational resource to help me understand and feel comfortable about my queerness much earlier in my life. So I made one. Queer Kid Stuff is an LGBTQ+ educational YouTube series for kids ages 3+ (but really, it’s for all ages).

How can we translate Asian women’s leadership in their respective countries to the international stage?

Ahed Tamimi is more than an emblem of Palestinian unity or a symbol of the resistance. She is an inspiring figure for all young feminists to look up to. 

Mama Tingó, a Black woman revolutionary who fought for working-class farmers, is seldom heard about or celebrated yet was crucial to Dominican history.

In light of women’s history month, it’s important to recognize and reflect on the successes of powerful young women. Indeed, much can be learned from how young female activists are using their voices to change the world.

Each year, the National Women’s History Project (NWHP), an organization dedicated to honoring and preserving women’s history, chooses a theme for Women’s History Month. The theme this March is a feminist rallying cry that dates back to last year: “Nevertheless, She Persisted.”

The fight against injustice will always be long and often discouraging. The only way to persist is to choose a cause you feel that your life—and the lives of others—depends on, one you can speak to from (for lack of a better, less cheesy phrase) the heart.