Right off the heels of the most exhausting* time to be woke for those of us blessed and basking in our best melanin lives–Black History Month–is March. March is Women’s History Month.
And today, March 8, is International Women’s Day.
Now, what is International Women’s Day? Ain’t it already Women’s History Month?
Let’s be real, raise your hand if you remembered it is Women’s History Month.

BUUUUURLEY.
Alright. It is what it is and there’s work that needs to be done to use this time to educate and elevate our stories. But hey, that’s why we’re here talking, right?
As described by the UN, International Women’s Day is “a day when women are recognized for their achievements without regard to divisions, whether national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic or political. International Women’s Day first emerged from the activities of labour movements at the turn of the twentieth century in North America and across Europe.”
Okay, okay, so what about this strike going on? The demonstrations?
No, the Deltas did not just leave their National Convention. The sea of red you’re seeing is for A Day Without Women. The leaders of The Women’s March have urged us to come together in economic solidarity to recognize the value that women hold, but more importantly, to acknowledge and rise against the inequality in: lower wages, discrimination, sexual harassment, and job insecurity.
A few of our Broadway Black favorites in formation.
Alright. I’ve got on my RED, what else can I do?
- Women take the day off, from paid and unpaid labor.
- Can’t take off? I get it. Me either. But educate with love, why you’re (men included) wearing red.
- Avoid shopping for one day (with exceptions for small, women- and minority-owned businesses).
Like Black history month, every day can be used to educate, love, and support the contributions Women make in the world. Here at Broadway Black we’re in the business of shinning a light on the women making noise on and off the stage.
Check out our compilation remembering and saluting women who are out here doing the dang thing!
How are you celebrating International Women’s Day? Tweet us pictures of you standing in solidarity!
*Exhausting: yea, I said it, exhausting. When you have folks trying to efface the little amount of consistent and committed time dedicated to honoring the achievements of our ancestors and those who continue in their path, by moving to change the focus to the broadened “Great Americans Day,” I gotta go. Or bosses and coworkers catering fried chicken and macaroni as their only nod to our heritage. #PermanentEyeRoll Or referencing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as if he is the only African American who walked this green earth. It is exhausting. Also, my hat is off to all of you in the trenches of Facebook comments and Twitter mentions because *in my best Drake voice* they don’t make no award for that, but y’all deserve #trophies for your commitment to education with a side of shade and tea.