As I was wandering around downtown the other day, I did a double-take at the “we’re going to be closed Monday” signs on the doors of several public buildings.
Oh, right. Casimir Pulaski Day.
Don’t get me wrong: I don’t have anything against Casimir Pulaski. In fact, every year I have to be reminded who in the world he is. But the fact that he gets his own Day in our fair city/state made me realize something that I’m embarrassed to admit that my good feminist brain has never considered before: There are no public holidays in America dedicated to a woman.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Washington’s Birthday (aka Presidents Day), Columbus Day. Man, man, man.
We don’t get International Women’s Day, which happens to be the anniversary of this fine publication, off from work. We don’t, en masse, crowd to the front of buses on Rosa Parks‘ birthday or celebrate the First Ladies on a day separate from Presidents Day.
Hmph.
As I fumed about this oversight on the way home, I started my list of women I would love to see a day dedicated to.
Here’s the beginning of my list — who’s on yours? Tweet your answer to @RebelliousMag with the hashtag #RebelleDay or post on our Facebook page.
Harriet Tubman Day
Sojourner Truth Day
Susan B. Anthony Day
Suffragettes Day
Ida B. Wells Barnett Day
Rosa Parks Day
Coretta Scott King Day
Eleanor Roosevelt Day
Fannie Lou Hamer Day
…I really could go on forever.
In Rebellion,
Karen
