By Vivian Blevins

Contributing Columnist

My question in the title refers to famous American women, women who’ve made an important difference in our country as we continue to celebrate Women’s History Month.

Some of you know that in 2020, we celebrate 100 years of American women’s right to vote. I must mention that some African American men and women have not had the right to vote for the past 100 years with poll taxes, literacy tests, the gerrymandering of districts and other methods used to suppress their voting.

Put that aside for a minute as it’s a different column. Do you believe that until the 19th amendment to the Constitution, women were prohibited from voting throughout the U.S.? Wrong. States such as Wyoming, Utah and others were allowing women to vote, and at times with certain conditions, but that subject is complex and is not the intent of my column today.

Get out your pencil or pen and match the following women with the description that best fits them:

__ Patsy Takemoto Mink		1. Singer of the blues
__ Margaret Sanger		2. Photographer
__ Toni Morrison		3. Principal chief of the Cherokee Nation
__ Babe Didrikson		4. Activist for women’s rights
__ J. K. Rowling		5. Winner of Nobel Prize for Literature 1993
__ Gloria Steinem		6. Designer of women’s clothes
__ Rachel Carson		7. Secretary of Labor
__ Frances Perkins		8. Advocate for birth control
__ Margaret Chase Smith		9. Olympic medal winner
__ Dorothea Lange		10. Author of books for young people
__ Billie Holiday		11. First woman on the U.S. Supreme Court
__ Wilma Mankiller		12. Early environmentalist
__ Sandra Day O’Connor		13. Person chiefly responsible for Title IX
__ Co Co Chanel		14. U.S. Senator
__ _________		15. _________________

Number 15 is blank. That space is for you to write the name of a woman you know who has had a positive influence on your life. Then call, write, e-mail or text that woman. If she is no longer among the living, contact one of her relatives. Be sure to indicate the ways in which she has had a decisive impact on your life.

And please consider passing your affirmation further by letting the many women in your life know that you appreciate them. Are there 5 or 10 or 15 or more? Just do it. I can provide the words: “You know March is Women’s History Month, and I want to thank you for…”