9 Alabama women who changed the world, including the first African-American woman in space

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Mae Jemison In Space
Mae Jemison in Space” by plumsaplomb is licensed under CC PDM 1.0

Today is the first day of Women’s History Month! Held each year in March, this month-long celebration is a time to recognize and honor the accomplishments of women throughout history.

Learn more about these 9 inspiring women from Alabama.

1. Mae Jemison

Dr. Mae Jemison, Principal For The 100 Year Starship Project And Former Nasa Astronaut - Global Climate Action High-Level Event
Dr. Mae Jemison, Principal for the 100 Year Starship Project and Former NASA Astronaut – Global Climate Action High-Level Event” by UNclimatechange is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Did you know that the first African-American woman in space was born in Decatur? In 1992, Alabama native Mae Jemison made history as a Mission Specialist during NASA’s STS-47 mission in the Space Shuttle Endeavor.

Fun fact: Commander Danielle Poole in the hit Apple TV show For All Mankind is loosely based on Mae Jemison!

2. Julia Tutwiler

A native of Tuscaloosa, Julia Tutwiler was an early advocate for education and prison reform, such as separating male and female prisoners and better sanitary conditions. Due to her work, a women’s dorm at the University of Alabama was named for her.

BONUS: Did you know Julia Tutwiler wrote Alabama’s state song? Learn more about that and other accomplishments of Julia Tutwiler.

3. Rosa Parks

Rosa Parks
Rosa Parks defies segregation on Alabama bus” by Chris Green is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Born in Tuskegee, Alabama in 1913, Rosa Parks is one of the most well-recognized faces of the Civil Rights Movement.

In 1955, Parks was famously arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a public bus in Montgomery to a white passenger. Her arrest sparked the year-long Montgomery Bus Boycott and eventually led a federal court to declare that the Alabama and Montgomery laws that segregated buses were unconstitutional.

4. Tallulah Bankhead

Bankhead
Tallulah Bankhead” by twm1340 is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

Originally from Huntsville, Tallulah Bankhead was a well-known actress and proponent of civil rights. Born in 1902 to a prominent political family, Tallulah was primarily known as one of the great stage actresses of the early 20th century—however, she also won awards for her performances on the silver screen, including her starring role in Alfred Hitchcock’s 1944 film “Lifeboat.”

Fun fact: Alabama’s Bankhead National Forest is named for her father, William B. Bankhead, who served as Speaker of the House of Representatives.

5. Condoleeza Rice

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CONDOLEEZZA RICE OPENS HEART AND MIND” by roberthuffstutter is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Born and raised in Birmingham’s Titusville neighborhood, Condoleezza Rice made history as the first African-American woman to serve as Secretary of State. After receiving a Ph.D. in political science in 1981, Rice began teaching at Stanford University and stepped up to be the first female, first African-American and youngest provost in the university’s history.

During the Bush administration, Condoleeza Rice took on the role of National Security Advisor before stepping up as the first African-American woman to serve as Secretary of State.

6. Harper Lee

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truman-capote-and-harper-lee” by Peggy O’Connor is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

In June of 1960, Alabama author Harper Lee’s debut novel To Kill a Mockingbird became an overnight success. The Pulitzer-prize-winning novel—which depicts the absurdity of racism in the Deep South through the eyes of children—has since become a piece of classic American literature.

Fun fact: Thanks to the work of Harper Lee and her close friend, neighbor and fellow writer Truman Capote, their hometown of Monroeville was designed the “Literary Capital of Alabama” in 1997.

7. Helen Keller

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Hellen Keller circa 1920” by Los Angeles Times is licensed under CC BY 4.0

Born in Tuscumbia—one of Alabama’s “Quad Cities”—Helen Keller’s life was forever changed when an illness caused her to lose her sight and hearing as an infant. Thanks to the work of her instructor and lifelong friend Anne Sullivan, Helen Keller learned how to read, write and communicate.

After overcoming her disability, Helen Keller campaigned on behalf of others with disabilities and advocated for women’s suffrage, world peace and more. Today, Helen Keller is one of the most well-known figures in Alabama history.

Fun fact: Helen Keller’s birthplace, Ivy Green, still stands to this day and can be visited in Tuscumbia.

8. Angela Davis

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Angela Davis in 2019” by Oregon State University is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

Born in Birmingham, Angela Davis is an activist, author and educator dealing with the issues of race, gender, class and more.

As an adult, Davis taught black philosophy, women’s studies and more at a variety of colleges and universities. After a stint of teaching abroad, she returned to the States in the late 1960s. Although she has retired from teaching full-time, Angela Davis continues to use her voice to advocate on the issues of feminism, race, gender, equality and more.

9. Coretta Scott King

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Coretta Scott King in 1969” by US Department of State is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0

Born in the small unincorporated Alabama community of Heiberger, Coretta Scott was an author, activist, civil rights leader and wife of Martin Luther King, Jr. After the 1968 assassination of her husband, Coretta continued to advocate for issues she was passionate about, including women’s rights, LGBT rights, civil rights, world peace and more.

Which influential Alabama women did we miss? Tag us @thebamabuzz to let us know!

Nathan Watson
Nathan Watson

Tennessee native who fell in love with Birmingham during college. Graduated from Birmingham-Southern College in 2019. Passionate about Birmingham and its continued growth.

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