1. Shirley Chisholm

Shirley Chisholm was the first Black woman to run for president of the United States. Running on the campaign slogan, “Unbought and Unbossed,” she put in her bid as a Democratic candidate in 1972. While she lost the bid to George McGovern, she had already been a trailblazer for being the first Black woman to be elected to congress in 1968, four years prior to her presidential campaign. She served in congress until 1983.

2. Dr. Wil Gafney

Dr. Wil Gafney is a Bible scholar, professor and Episcopal priest. She teaches at Brite Divinity School in Texas. She has a bit of a peace church background since she received her undergraduate degree at Earlham College. She is best known for writing The Womanist Midrash and teaching courses such as “The Bible and Black Lives Matter.” She is an activist in Christian circles.

3. Madonna Thunder Hawk

Madonna Thunder Hawk is a Native American civil rights activist. She was an early proponent of the Red Power movement. She took part in the occupation of Alcatraz from 1969-1971. This was a 19-month long occupation of the island of Alcatraz and the prison that was on it, as it was deemed “surplus federal land.” She was also a part of the American Indian Movement (AIM), and this group, led by many women, occupied the land at Wounded Knee. You can still follow Madonna Thunder Hawk on Twitter.

4. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Also known as AOC, this Bronx native is a representative for New York’s 14^th Congressional District. She is the youngest woman ever elected to Congress, along with being one of the first members of the Democratic Socialists of America to be elected. She was also a major proponent of the Green New Deal, which would have the U.S. running on 100% renewable energy on a new electrical grid. Recently, she boycotted Netanyahu speaking to Congress, calling him a “war criminal,” owing to the attacks on Gaza.

5. Chien Shiung Wu

Chien Shiung Wu was a Chinese American physicist who, because of her contributions to science, has been compared to Marie Curie. She was also called the “Queen of Nuclear Research.”  She was the first woman to be a professor in the physics department at Princeton University. She was also important in the development of the Manhattan Project, but later distanced herself from its horrendous destruction, having been one of many scientists working on the project. Later in her career, she spoke out against gender discrimination at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the low wages of women professionals, particularly in STEM.