Cheryl Stearns one of many women Aviation members

                        Women in Aviation are very committed to their job; they have the inspiration to be one of the best pilots anyone has ever seen. They do not just have a knack for flying airplanes, they have a passion for jumping out of them too! Cheryl Stearns is no exception to that hobby, actually she is a world parachute champion. She finds a great interest in jumping out of airplanes, that after fifty years outside of the service she still has the eyes like a child when she hears the word parachute or airplane. Women in the aviation started at a very early age, well early for people of this day and age. Cheryl jumped of an airplane for her first time at the age of seventeen, and this is what she has to say about it, "I wanted to experience the sensation of falling through the air so I decided to take a lesson. I talked my mother into signing the release form because I wasn't old enough to jump without it. I even borrowed the initial $40 fee from her." This woman is very intriguing and has a very bright and jolly personality. After this first jump, she was hooked. Cheryl's father had given her the finances to start her flight training, which is where she got her unique balance that she found in parachuting and flying. She breezed through all of her ratings and when she became old enough to attend a community college, she became a flight instructor. 

                        In 1974, Cheryl had entered her first national skydiving competition and placed ninth overall. This very good placement on her first national competition gave her the urge to become the best and a champion. She put all the time and effort to be the best by jumping out of an airplane six times a day, seven days a week. To me, that is dedication. After several attempts of jumping out of the airplane, she had become an expert at style and became very accurate in her landings. To perform a stunt in the air to receive points, you are required to perform a series of aerial maneuvers within a 30-second time span and fighting an 80 mph twist and pull once you hit the outside of the plane. February of 1977, is an important day for Cheryl because she became the first woman member of the Golden Knights, the U.S. Army's parachute team. This event was very important to Cheryl and sent a shock wave to other women telling them that anything is possible.

                        When Cheryl was coming to the end of aviation career, she had logged 8,400 jumps and 8,300 hours of flight time and still remains in the Army's National Guard to this day. She also won a grand total of twenty-five national and international parachuting championships. This woman really meant business when she was at her prime. With the events coming to a close, her most prestigious event that occurred was being selected by the International Parachuting Committee to receive the Leonardo da Vinci Diploma, which is the highest honor the international sport it can receive.

Shirley Temple Black- A Child Star and Political Achiever

Who is Shirley Temple?

Born Shirley Jane Temple in 1928 in Santa Monica, California. She was commonly known as a child star of the 30's. Her curly blond ringlet hair, singing voice, tap dance abilities, and noticeable lisp were just a few factors that made her a famous child star of the decade. Many people say she was the most sophisticated performer they have ever seen, some even saying she was more mature than many of the adults she worked with on set.

Where has she been Seen?

Shirley Temple became well-known in 1934 when she starred in four separate films that year; Little Miss Marker, Baby Take a Bow, Now and Forever, and Bright Eyes. At this time Shirley Temple was only six years old and was even awarded an Academy Award that was quoted, "in grateful recognition of her outstanding contribution." Her popularity peaked from 1935-1938 where she was named the "biggest box-office attraction in Hollywood." Being only ten years old, these achievements were massive.

Little Girl Growing Up:

When Shirley was just 17 years old she married her first husband John Agar, who eventually could not cope with being "Mr. Shirley Temple." He quickly turned into an alcoholic when he could not deal with the consequences of being married to a child star. They divorced when Shirley was just 21 years old. Soon after her divorce, she met Mr. Charles Black on a Hawaiian vacation, who had never seen any of her films, and did not even know she was a famous child star. They married shortly after returning home and were lovers from the very start. She stated, "from the very first time I saw him, I knew he was perfect for me."

Achievements:

In 1967, Shirley Temple Black ran for the United States Congress on a platform of urging more American involvement in the Vietnam war. Her debate was good but she did not win the election. Although she lost the election, she was still determined to somehow make a difference. She attributed to some political cartoons and still remained active in Republican politics. Shirley Temple Black began serving as a United States Representative. She was even an ambassador to Ghana and Czechoslovakia. She was always proud and determined to make a difference in her work as a U.S. Representative doing whatever she could to help.


A quote she once stated says "Shirley Temple doesn't hurt Shirley Temple Black. Shirley Temple helps Shirley Temple Black." Regardless of who she was in the past, she wanted everyone to realize she was way more than just a child star of the 1930's, but she could also make a difference in her political life as well. She was a woman of great drive and determination. From her famous child star days until her proud United States Representative days, she has always remained an influential icon of America known first for her curly ringlet hair and last for her government achievements.

Women In World War II

Women in World War II

World War II took such a toll on the United States of America. Women were the vital point in the success of the war. They were the vital point because they were the ones supplying the men overseas with supplies; such as weapons, food, health supplies, etc… The problem with all the women working in the factories to assist their husbands or fathers was that once the war had ended they had to give up all their jobs and give them back to the men. This caused an outrage among most women because they wanted a job, they needed a changed from the traditional society they have been living. The returning soldiers wanted society to go back to normal, therefore by 1939, two million young girls found employment in domestic service at 25p a week. Some women still looked for work, and they found employment in the Civil Service as a teacher and nurse. Women in the force were not allowed to be engaged in military services and marriage, so once one option began the other was lost. Women were asked again to work in the factories, but this time was different. The items they were asked to make ranged from ammunition to uniforms to airplanes. Women of the factory put long hours into their work, some had to establish a better means of transportation to work. People that did not have very much money were left to live within the factories they work in to make a profit from the long tasks.

            Women wanted to have rights that they didn’t before so they were willing to do whatever it took to earn the rights they are owed. Women went on strike in the year 1943, at the Rolls Royce factory, this outraged men all around the states. The men seen this strike as unpatriotic and were pelted with rotten eggs, and inedible tomatoes. This riot of pelting lasted until the men soon realized that they were getting paid less than a unskilled labor man. During the Blitz on London, women became another important job. They were a part of the “Women’s Voluntary Service”. The WVS provided firefighters with refreshments and tea when the clear-up of the raid had stopped. The WVS consisted of one million members by the end of 1943 of which the organization started. The WVS consisted of mostly elder women, than younger women because the young women were already in the factories providing as much help as they can give. The WVS also provided as much assistance as they could and did whatever was needed of them. The WVS took in members of people that were homeless from the German bombings.

            A very intriguing task that women were apart of during WWII was they were asked to perform Secret Agent tasks. The tasks they were given ranged from various locations, but they were to gather as much intelligence as they could to support the allies and report back. This task for women was very risky, because women were not taken to be very high on the chain for importance so if they were caught at any time they were either tortured for information or worse, death.  
-Henry Piatek

Helen Keller- A Miracle

Who is Helen Keller?

Helen Keller was born a healthy baby girl in Tuscumbia, Alabama in the late 1800’s. She came from a family descending of colonial governors and prominent New England families such as the Hales, Everetts, and Adamses. She was guaranteed a life full of success and following in her family’s footsteps.

Tragedy Strikes:

Around 19 months old Helen Keller became severely ill with something the doctors called brain fever, more likely known as scarlet fever, leaving her deaf and blind before she even knew how to speak to the outside world. This awful tragedy left her to be a wild child who was quite the hell raiser. Nobody knew how to tame this little girl, especially since she could not see or hear anyone to learn discipline and respect.

A New Life:

In March of 1887, when Helen Keller was just shy of seven years old, a woman came to be her new teacher. Anne Sullivan was a graduate from Perkins School for the Blind who had regained her own sight after several extensive operations. She had a rare understanding of Helen and knew how it felt to not be able to communicate with others. Taming this child would be a miracle all on its own, and that is exactly what Miss Sullivan was there to do.

The “Miracle Worker”:

Anne Sullivan began to teach Helen Keller in simple ways to start out. She would place an object in her hand, and then use sign language to spell the word into her hand as well. Helen caught on quickly but it was obvious that she did not fully understand what the words meant. One day Miss Sullivan took Helen to an outdoor pump and began pouring water into her hand then spelling it out afterwards. Helen suddenly realized that the wet substance in her hand meant water and was finally able to put it all together and realize what different words meant. She learned over 30 words in that single day.

Furthering her Education:

As Helen began to learn more and more she gained an understanding of how to read and write. She told Miss Sullivan that she wanted to be able to speak and to go to college too. In 1898 Helen entered the Cambridge School for Young Ladies and began preparing for Radcliffe College. In 1990, she began at Radcliffe and eventually graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1904. Without Miss Sullivan, Helen Keller would never have accomplished these goals throughout her life.

In the End:

Throughout the rest of her life, Helen received honorary doctoral degrees from Temple University and Harvard University, and also from the Universities of Glasgow, Scotland, Berlin, Germany, Delhi, India, and Witwatersrand in South Africa. Helen Keller died in 1936 with Miss Sullivan right by her side, after a lifetime full of achievements. Without Anne Sullivan, who is known as Helen Keller’s “Miracle Worker” none of her accomplishments would have ever been possible. She was forever grateful for her wonderful teacher who was full of kindness and patience. Helen Keller’s story is a miracle all on its own and just goes to show that anything can be possible with enough effort and determination.

OPRAH Winfrey

Biography:

Oprah Winfrey was born in Kosciusko, Mississippi to her unwed, teenage mother. She lived on a farm and her grandmother taught her how to read and write. She looked up to her grandmother because her grandmother was a role model for her since her mother was always working. When Oprah moved to Milwaukee with her mother, she experienced major life changing events. Her mother worked all day, leaving Oprah alone and molested by male relatives. This devastation lead her to run away from home and when she did she was sent to juvenile detention homes but was denied because of limited space. She gave birth to a son, but he died of infancy and then went to Tennessee to live with her father.

Moving in with her father was the best decision she could ever make. He gave her a new life and Oprah started to become very successful. She won the Miss Black Tennessee beauty pageant and was offered a job at a radio station, serving the African American community in Nashville. After working for the radio show she began her own talk show series and became one of the most iconic people in American history.

The Oprah Winfrey Show:

Her show began like many other talk shows, but after many years and many awards, Oprah’s show broke from the norms of the talk shows. Her show integrated spiritual values, healthy living and self-help which lead to an even bigger following. Her show also integrated many famous people and big societal issues such as gay and lesbian issues. With many different issues being discussed, Oprah became even more of a star.

She’s relatable:

Many people who do not know Oprah, don’t know what she has gone through, but the people who do know her know that she is just like other people and has suffered many hard ships. They also know that she is very well-rounded by the issues she discusses on her talk show and she tries to cover “all bases” with what issues are going on in the society. People also know she is one of the most giving and influential people in the United State’s history. She has opened many doors for people from her amazing contributions, such as the school for girls in Africa. Opening that school demonstrated Oprah’s concern for girls of color and she wanted to give them a shot of a good life and not have them go through what she had to endure.

Her legacy:

Oprah has become one of the most iconic people in the United State’s history. She has broken many cultural norm barriers and has left her mark on the society by the work in her talk show and her contributions through out the world.

Marilyn Monroe (1926-1962)

Background

Marilyn Monroe was born as Norma Jean Mortenson (Baker) on June 1, 1926 in Los Angeles, California. Marilyn’s childhood consisted of her being passed around between countless family members, family friends and orphanages. She finally found a stable home with a family friend and stayed with them for a few years. But Doc (the husband) got a new job out East and couldn’t afford to take Marilyn, leaving her again living in foster care homes. To escape the life of bouncing around from place to place, she married her boyfriend Jimmy Dougherty in 1942 at the age of 16. Dougherty was a merchant marine and was sent to the South Pacific, leaving Marilyn behind. During this time, Marilyn worked in a factory and worked to become a model and an actress. Throughout her life Marilyn became a very successful model and actress and icon for the American society. But on August 5, 1962 she died of a drug overdose at the age of 36.

Her Claim to Fame
While working in that factory, a famous photographer snapped a picture of her. The photographer visited many factories to take pictures of women at work and he was mesmerized by Marilyn’s beauty and grace. Her picture circulated through the Hollywood scene and within months her modeling career took off and she was the face of many magazine covers. She divorced her husband in 1946 and changed her name from what she called, “the boring Norma Baker” to the more glamorous Marilyn Monroe, after her grandmother. She also changed her hair color from subtle brunette, to platinum blonde. While her modeling career was in motion, so was her acting career. She began taking drama lessons and got her first movie contract with Twentieth Century Fox. While most of her first films were low key, she was getting attention and was being exposed to the atmosphere of Hollywood. With more publicity, she landed roles in films called, All About Eve, Niagara, Gentleman Prefer Blonds and How to Marry a Millionaire. Audiences loved her breathy, blonde bombshell appeal and her the acting characteristics she displayed, which lead her to more high key roles, more important roles and made her even more famous.



Her Influence on American Society
People of the American society not only noticed and loved her strong and relatable acting characteristics, they were in love with her personal appearance and personal characteristics. As Marilyn made great strides on the film screen she also made great strides in her public appearance. She became an iconic figure of Hollywood glamour and fashion and was an epitome of sensuality, beauty and effervescence, and was also naturally photogenic. She became an icon for the women in the American society of that time and today. Her modeling tactics opened up many new doors in the modeling world and many young models are using her techniques today. She was portrayed as a sex symbol of that time, which has influenced America in many different ways. Even though she was sex symbol and a little edgier than many people of America of that time, she also displayed a sense of talent and class on film and on the runway.

“A Candle in the Wind”
By: Elton John

This song was written by Elton John after Marylin Monroe had passed away from a drug overdose. In the song, Elton sings about how Marylin had a certain grace about her, and even though she experienced hardships in her childhood as well as the pressures of being in the public eye, she held herself, while many other people would not have had that same ability. He also explains that while her career was booming, it was like the public was “putting her on a treadmill” and they made her change her name. As the song continues and it comes to the chorus, he is implying that she is like “a candle in the wind,” meaning she is just barely hanging on because she has really had no one to turn to in her life and she is just barely hanging on from all the public attention and criticisms she was getting. The last aspect of Elton John’s song that was very meaningful was when he states: “your candle burned out long before, your legend ever did” and this quote holds true to today. Marilyn Monroe died way before her legend ever did, because her legend and influence on the American society and the women of America still lives on today.

Allison Kanaman

Challenges for Black Women- Rosa Parks

Who is Rosa Parks?
A black women, who worked as a seamstress from Montgomery, Alabama and challenged women's rights as well as segregation laws in the South.

What did she do?
Rosa Parks challenged the laws of segregation two times, both with different situations involving the city bus system in which she refused to either get on the back of the bus, or refuse to give up her seat to someone else.

The First Challenge:
In 1943, Miss Parks was thrown off of a city bus because she refused to get on through the back door as black citizens were supposed to. After this incident some of the city bus drivers started refusing to let her on the buses all together. This story made headline news and citizens of Montgomery were shocked that someone would stand up for black rights, let alone, a women. Parks created a major uproar between black and white citizens of the city.

The Second Challenge:
In 1955, the bold and brave Rosa Parks was, once again, on a city bus when she refused to give up her seat to a white person, named James Blake, who just so happened to be the driver that had kicked her off of a bus 12 years prior. This stirred around the city and created a huge commotion, also making headlines in the newspapers. Many could not believe that she was acting out again against the law. How could a black women be so disrepectful to a white citizen seemed to be the most asked question. Parks sparked a major change with the black community, as well as women's rights in the city of Montgomery, Alabama challenging the laws of segregation.

What were the consequences?
Rosa Parks was arrested immediately and now faced fines that were considered breaking the segregation laws which stated, "Black Americans must vacate their seats if there are white passengers left standing." She was a strong and independent woman who was going to stand up for herself and fight for her rights in order to make the world a little less corrupt. She stated "I would like to be remembered as a person who wanted to be free...so other people would also be free." Although the consequences were minimal, Parks did not give up.

Impact on today:
Today, Rosa Parks is known all around the world. Her bravery and efforts will forever be remembered throughout the entire United States, and especially the South. She stood up for herself, her people, and her rights in order to change the ways of the world. If it was not for Parks simply standing up to a white man on a city bus, segregation laws and women's rights may not have ever sparked a change. The newspaper records show just how shocking and impacting Rosa Parks was in the city of Montgomery, and ultimately throughout the entire South. Parks, today, is seen as an extremely brave women who refused to let the laws forbidding colored people to do certain things make a difference in her life. Although consequences were given, she handled them all and kept on with her life and fighting for her rights as a colored women.

"Each person must live their life as a model for others." -Rosa Parks
This quote just goes to show that she was not just standing up for herself, but for all of the colored citizens who were treated just as unfair as she was. She was not going to stop until something was changed. Even though most changes happened after her lifetime, she will always be a brave symbol in the past that sparked a major change with segregation.

Erica Hendzel