Apologies for the difficulties at the start of thisshow on Women Warriors as we struggled to hit all the right buttons on the board. Thanks to friend of theshow, Vicki Weeks, we finally found ourselves on air and talking about womenwho led, who dissented, who challenged and for many, paid the price ofdissent–loss of family, community, independence as they were imprisoned underextremely harsh conditions, and with their lives. We began with our firstforemothers, the indigenous, who as clan mothers selected the chiefs andspiritual leaders. During the colonial period, women who challengedreligious doctrine and their second-class status were violated, whipped,dragged behind wagons, imprisoned and hanged. Kudos to co-host MargieStandard for bringing southern women into the discussion, including the Bells,Steel Magnolias and River Rats, who defied laws to educate enslaved children,harbored and assist those seeking freedom from slavery, and nurtured and fedfamilies despite the harsh conditions pre- and post-Civil War.
Womenplayed an essential role during the Industrial Revolution and WWI, standingwith workers on the picket lines and fighting for a more just and egalitariansociety and against patriarchy, capitalism and war. When faced withprison, women demanded political prisoner status but were met with thebrutality of prison and deportation. Suffrage gave women political power,which they used to oppose the Espionage, Sedition Acts, and Smith Acts, thelatter forbidding their activities to assist men obtain conscientious objectorstatus prior to WWII.
Tune in next week for part 2 of this conversation of warrior women at II am at I07.5 FM in Savannah and wruu.org everywhere else.
- 12:30pm WRUU-FM by Live
