Spring Begins with Women’s History Month

Apricot tree is blooming at Throop Graden in Pasadena (Photo – Staff).

Last week I wound my way up to Paso Robles by taking the 5 north.

By Tera Landers

Not long past the grapevine, the almond orchards were in full bloom, billows of soft white as far as the eye could see. Their blossoms fell like a light layer of snow underneath the tree branches. Los Angeles had just experienced an intense rainstorm, yet those blossoms declared – spring is here!

And so it is. Spring here begins with Women’s History Month. It couldn’t come at a more perfect time – both in the context of what is happening in the world, and because for many people, the realization that women’s contributions in this world are equal to men’s is a time of personal rebirth, of becoming.

How old were you, where were you, what were you doing when you first understood that sometimes gender either gave you more opportunities or less? How did you respond to that new knowledge?

Time to
re-acquaint
yourself with
writers, thinkers
and activists
who moved
the rights
for women
forward

Whether it was sixty or six years ago for you – this month is a great time to re-acquaint yourself with writers, thinkers and activists who moved the rights for women forward. Most local libraries will have displays and suggestions on compelling women-focused literature. One of my favorite in-depth compilations of the works of women of color is “The Lemonade Syllabus,” which you can download here, and it includes written works as well as photography, music, film, and more.

The fruit tree blossoms will soon drift to the ground, breaking down into the soil. The new small fruit will hang joyfully on the limbs. As this month progresses, may your commitment to lifting up the contributions of women continue to flower, and may our collective work for equality for all, regardless of gender, bear fruit as a world more whole and just.