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Celebrate women's history this Friday
All of us need heroes to look up to, to inspire us to do our best, to stretch our limits and "push the envelope."

We also need heroines - women for young girls to look up to... women whose stories help ensure a future of equality of rights, opportunity and respect for women.

Luckily, these strong, rugged mountains nurture strong, rugged women. Women like Marie Colton, first female speaker pro tem of the N.C. Legislature who spent 16 years "trying to think foremost about the little person, the person who didn't know how to influence lawmakers or to get involved in the action."

Women like teacher Willie Vincent, whose students operated a gift-wrapping store and donated the profits to the needy and homeless.

Women like Martha Cabe Queen, who work for social change by helping establish the pilot Smart Start program and developing an after-school program for the public schools.

Women like Mary Jane Queen, who keep the music of the mountains alive by passing it down to their children.

Women like Ruth Dodd Morgan, who sustain the tradition and art of mountain crafts while providing crafters a viable income.

Women like Joyce Conseen Dugan, first female principal chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee whose sense of duty guided her to challenge the system and run for office.

Women like Sylva Mayor Brenda Oliver, who "set about doing something about it" when she felt women did not have adequate representation in town government.

Women like Oralene Graves-Mosley, organizer of cultural diversity events who believes "we all need to inspire the young; to say something to them that they will remember. I still remember my own grandmother's words, 'Do the best you can, and all that you can, then ask God for the rest.'"

Women like award-winning teacher and best-selling author Helen Mosely Edington, who says "the way we live is the best education for our own children."

Each will share "her story" during the Strong Comes After program at 6 p.m. this Friday, March 31, in the Mountain Heritage Center Auditorium at Western Carolina University.

During March, Women's History Month, we applaud these mountain heroines for their role in shaping WNC "herstory" and for serving as strong role models for young girls in the region.


Editorial policy

The opinions expressed on this page are those of the Sylva Herald Editorial Committee. Opinions are derived independently and owe no allegiance to any group, organization or political party. We welcome opposing views.

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