Honoring the Women Who Have Advocated for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Women throughout history have been champions for a better, more inclusive world. While we cannot spotlight every woman who has changed the game, we want to take a moment this Women’s History Month to honor a few of the women who have advocated for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), changing our trajectory as a society.

Professor Kimberlé Crenshaw

Professor Kimberlé Crenshaw is a legal scholar renowned for her DEI work. She introduced new concepts that inform the industry, including the “intersectional theory”. Intersectionality is a concept that recognizes the interconnected nature of the elements of human identity, such as race, gender, class, and more, and their combined impact on an individual’s experiences of privilege or discrimination. Her body of work also includes contributions to Critical Race Theory, which examines how race intersects with culture and legal systems, emphasizing the role of historical and institutional racism in perpetuating social inequalities through the systems our society is built upon.

Nichelle Nichols

Nichelle Nichols was one of the first black women on television, breaking racial barriers and inspiring many. Beyond her role as Lieutenant Uhura on Star Trek, Nichols’ impact also extended to real-life space exploration. She helped recruit diverse astronauts for NASA, enhancing representation in their space programs and leading to some of the first women and people of color astronauts. Nichols showcased the significance of representation in breaking down racial and gender barriers.

Ruby Bridges and Barbara Henry

In 1960, Ruby Bridges was the first African American child to desegregate an all-white elementary school in the American South (New Orleans, LA), where she faced violent protests, bullying, and racial slurs. But despite being the only child in her classroom, she wasn’t fully alone. Her white teacher, Barbara Henry, took a stand to remain Ruby’s teacher in the face of social ostracism, and at times, violent backlash. Although Ruby was the only student in her class, Barbara instructed Ruby as if Barbara were teaching an entire class. Ruby went on to start the Ruby Bridges Foundation, an organization that holds the values of “tolerance, respect, and appreciation of all differences”. Ruby and Barbara are still close friends today.

As we honor women like Nichelle Nichols, Professor Kimberlé Crenshaw, Ruby Bridges, and Barbara Henry this Women’s History Month, we are reminded that there is always a path towards a more inclusive future. These women inspire us to continue the fight for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. In recognizing their achievements, we hope to inspire you to join us in our effort to integrate DEI values into every workplace.