Women's History and Black History Celebrations

On Saturday, March 4th, at 1:00 p.m., in the Unitarian Universalist Church of Miami sanctuary, Janette Moody Allen, professionally acclaimed opera singer (four working octaves coloratura) gave a stunning performance of UU Ellie Stein’s play, “Harriet Tubman On The Underground Railroad,” depicting the story of how this remarkable woman spirited 300 slaves to the North and freedom at great risk to herself.

The Alliance in collaboration with the University of Miami Women’s Study Program, and the Southeast Cluster, made this presentation possible. Included in the audience were many people from the larger community.

Another large happening here in Miami was the University of Miami’s Department of Theatre Arts and College of Arts and Sciences production, at the Ring Theatre of Wendy Wasserstein’s play, “Uncommon Women and Others.” The Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright was present to participate with faculty members on a panel discussion post-play, with input from the audience!

It was incredible to see how this 1978 play, winning a Pulitzer Prize in 1989, is still relevant to women today. Wendy and the faculty panelists were able to give a wonderful historic perspective to the exploration of women’s rights, feminism, and feminist political issues through their personal sharing. Each panelist presented a different perspective in keeping with the diversity in age and the stages of their own life journey.

Also part of the University of Miami’s Women’s History and Black History Celebrations Women’s History Month there was a presentation by Kate Millet, author of Sexual Politics, who spoke on “New Definition of Women’s Rights,” as well as a presentation by Joyann McCall Gongaware on “Contributions of Women in History: The Example of Mary Baker Eddy.”

So there is a lot of Women’s History action in the Florida District. St. Petersburg had the gifted Dr. Sally Roesch Wagner doing four days of Matilda Joslyn Gage, the third feminist with Susan B. Anthony and Elisabeth Cady Stanton. Gage was a woman who was so radical she was unrecorded in the movement by her own courageous sisters. Dr. Wagner also beautifully presented the little known influence of the Iroquois women who were an inspiration to the women in Seneca Falls. Dr. Wagner appeared on Ken Burn’s TV docudrama “Not For Ourselves Alone,” The story of Anthony and Stanton, and write the study guide.

Also, Margot Adler is in the UU Church of Boca Raton. Therefore, many truly uncommon women have been running up and down Florida roads to take in all of the above. Again, I am very pleased, indeed, because we have worked very hard as outrageous activists to get all this action in the Florida District. A proper celebration of women and their incredible almost unknown history – the best ever to date.

BLESSED BE AND BRAVO, LUCY SWENSON-KNIGHTS FLORIDA DISTRICT WOMEN & RELIGION