UNCOMMON ACTIONS AGAINST FEMALE GENDER DISCRIMINATION & ACHIEVEMENTS

 

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A Case Study of the Five (5) Daughters of Zelophehad  Curled from a Book Authored By: Dr. Ebi Nurseman Isaac, FCIA Titled: ‘Uncommon Actions in Uncommon Circumstances That Achieve Uncommon Results’ (Published 2005)

“Then came the daughters of Zelophehad, the son of Helper, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, of the families of Manasseh the son of Joseph: and these are the names of his daughters; Mahlah, Noah, and Hoglah, and Milcah, and Tirzah. 2 And they stood before Moses, and before Eleazar the priest, and before the princes and all the congregation, by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying, 3 Our father died in the wilderness, and he was not in the company of them that gathered themselves together against the LORD in the company of Korah; but died in his own sin, and had no sons.4 Why should the name of our father be done away from among his family, because he hath no son? Give unto us therefore a possession among the brethren of our father. 5 And Moses brought their cause before the LORD.6 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,7 The daughters of Zelophehad speak right: thou shalt surely give them a possession of an inheritance among their father's brethren; and thou shalt cause the inheritance of their father to pass unto them.8 And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a man die, and have no son, then ye shall cause his inheritance to pass unto his daughter. 9 And if he have no daughter, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his brethren.10 And if he have no brethren, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his father's brethren.11 And if his father have no brethren, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his kinsman that is next to him of his family, and he shall possess it: and it shall be unto the children of Israel a statute of judgment, as the LORD commanded Moses”. Numbers 27:1-11

The above quoted scriptural passage is pregnant with freedom given uncommon actions and principle against female gender discrimination in society.

Girls, Ladies and Women has over the years and even now being subjected to untold sufferings, hardship, segregation and oppression in the name of superstitious beliefs, unscriptural and obnoxious customs, man-made laws and traditional practices as well as unrefined, uncultured lifestyle of some so- called men in the society. The sufferings associated to female gender and its battle against female gender discrimination started in the Bible days. There is this belief' that woman was created for man to be used as a slave. “And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him”. Gen 2:18. God said, it is not good that the mam should be alone. Alone in performing all family, domestic, occupational, spiritual, economic; social and leadership functions. He (God) decided to make woman to help man discharge all duties that man is expected to perform.

Adam knew the mind of God hence he said ' This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of man’ (Gen. 2:23). Adam realized that the Woman had all the features of man except that of the reproductive organ. Therefore, he decided to treat the woman in line with God's order.

Another point people normally stresses to support oppressive actions on the female gender is that, it was the woman that caused Adam to eat the for-bidden fruit in the Garden of Eden. But remember both the man and the woman were created as free moral agent. That means Adam has the power to resist and reject the suggestion coming from Eve that is contrary to God's clear commandment but he did not do that. Hence when God was administering His judgment upon him, He (God) said “Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life”. Because of these unbalanced and unscriptural interpretation of God's word and dealings on issues concerning Women and the Girl-Child, man decided to formulate laws and established customs against the usefulness, integrity and of course the womanhood privileges.

The passage quoted first revealed that the Israelites did not recognize female children. In fact they are not regarded as children. Having only female children in the family is simply interpreted as not having any child. When a man dies without having a male child, the practice or custom of the Israelites was that no inheritance would be given to the female children. The female children are unqualified to receive inheritance meant for them from their father's possession. The story has not totally changed even today though many women and none governmental organizations have risen up to wage war against female gender discrimination. There are millions of women who are receiving untold sufferings because the children God gave to the family are all females. Apart from administering oppressive actions against the mother, the daughters are not exempted. They are deprived of sound education, receiving  impartial treatments and segregation in the family. In some places in Nigeria and even other African countries, women are kept in house for days or weeks in the name of performing traditional activities to the gods and goddesses of the town, village, clan etc. During such occasions only men are allowed to move in the town until the number of days or weeks for that traditional worship is accomplished. Some women after the decease of the husband are thrown out of the house, which was built by the effort of both the husband and the wife. The family members of the husband will just come and cast the mother and her children out and take possession of all the properties. Under that condition, the woman will be subjected to a lot of sufferings in the society. Some traditions forced a woman to drink the water used to wash the dead body of her deceased husband (may be to prove her innocence in the death her husband). Others are compelled to undergo terrible ritual activities after the death of the husband. Some women are not allowed to participate in social, political and leadership functions in the society. What shall we say about Female Genital Mutilation which is completely against the word of God. “This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised”. (Gen. 17:10). God only commanded that the male child and not the female child should be circumcised. 

The daughters of Zelophehad have read in history, and off course seen some of these discriminating actions against the female gender during their time decided long ago to stop this aged long problem. Like I said earlier, it has been the practice of the Israelites that if a man dies without having male child, the inheritance will not be given to his female children. However, these daughters of Zelophehad five in number, when their father died resolved to change history.

Uncommon Actions of Daughters of Zelophehad against Female Gender Discrimination

They came to Moses and Eleazar the priest to make an uncommon request. It was an uncommon action because nobody from the time of Adam till that moment has ever challenged actions against female gender discrimination even at the time of Moses to reverse this custom. Hence people would count them as:

Disrespectful daughters of Jezebel because, before they must have paved their way to the presence of Moses, their mother, family members, elders in Israel etc might have advised, counseled, warned and threatened them not to go and discuss such type of request; all the same they went ahead to meet Moses.

They would have been regarded as ladies having mental problem, possessed with spirit of   insanity that requires psychiatric care or deliverance yet they moved ahead and made their request.

They would have been abandoned by all loved ones to their fate thinking, Moses and Eleazar would ask the men of war to cage them until their insanity is cured. Yet they determined to move ahead and do what they have resolved in their minds. Sidney Bremer said ‘No tyranny of circumstances can permanently imprison a determined will’.  David Star Jordan also said, ‘The world stands aside to let anyone pass who knows where he is going, and if you don't know where you are going, someone else will take you to where he or she is going’. 

They would have been regarded as being proud and lacked respect for leadership and higher authority. They said call us any name, we will not retreat or surrender our will. 

They would have been counted as ladies who have crossed their boundary or jurisdiction. All these and many more were the negative actions of men and even fearful women and ladies against their God-given goal. Yet they insisted, became more resolute and full of determination to stop all discriminatory actions against female gender.

WHAT WERE THE POSSIBLE FACTORS RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR ABILITY

TO CARRY OUT SUCH UNCOMMON ACTIONS?

(1) They have been trained and developed in that line of actions over the years."...The son of Manasseh, of the families of Manasseh the son of Joseph:..." (Numbers 27:1)  Considering the fact that these ladies came from the lineage of Joseph a man from his youthful age who was known and regarded as an uncommon man, a specialist in terms of taking uncommon actions, then you will believe that they have been trained and developed in that way of life. If you've read the story of how Joseph used uncommon actions in trying to reveal his true identity to his brethren who came to buy corn in the land of Egypt, you will think he was revenging. Yet he loved them. He called them spies, he accused them of stealing his golden cup, he demanded actions from them which might endanger his aged father before he finally made himself known unto them. These ladies came from this type of family. They regarded themselves as uncommon ladies.

(2) They were analytical and logical in presenting their cause before Moses and Eleazer. “Produce your cause, saith the Lord; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob”.  (Isaiah 41:21) They said, their father was not killed by God's judgment as a result of disobedience and rebellion exhibited by Korah, Abirah and Dothan but died in his own sin (natural death). The death that is common to the whites and the blacks, educated and the illiterates, men and women, boys and girls, rich or poor, young and old. "It is appointed unto men once to die and after that judgement" (Hebrew 11:27) Because of this fact, Moses and Eleazar could not have said, ‘We cannot give you your father's inheritance’ because he was not among the rebellious people that were destroyed by God’s judgment.

(3) They said, their father had no sons (male children) but he had daughters (female children). The implication is this; whether a child is of male or female gender they have equal rights and privileges. More importantly, both genders came into the world through the female gender. They were saying in essence that the male child was born by a woman and he came out through the same channel where the female child came out from. The female child did not come out from the mouth or nose of a woman. Besides, they (female and male children) both have all the features of a human being except a difference in their reproductive organs. 

(4) They were totally and completely against female gender discrimination and advocated for equal rights for the male and female child. According to them, what is good for the male child is also good for the female child. The female child should also enjoy the privileges enjoyed by the male child. 

(5) They had a conviction that God has never relegated woman or the girl-child to the background both in the past, present and in the future. With their eyes of faith, they would have seen to the future, how the Saviour of the whole world (Jesus Christ) would be born by a lady called Virgin Mary thereby proving to the world that not all women will yield to satan's temptation. That there are women who would live an uncompromising lifestyle that satan himself cannot deceive.

Therefore, all man- made laws, customs, maladjusted interpretation of God's word to deprive women and the girl-child from fully utilizing their God-given potentials is not only an act of wickedness to the female gender but to God Almighty who Himself so much has respect for women and the girl-child to the extent He (God) sent Jesus Christ - the Saviour to this world through a lady.

There are traditions that forbid a man to wash his wife’s clothes saying it is a taboo to their customs but it is not a taboo for the male child to be born by a woman. Beside, when they were being breastfed by their mother (woman) it wasn't a taboo.

There are some men who are so engrossed with their tradition even among some so- called Christians who cannot pass under a line where women wrappers are being spread. According to them, it is against their tradition. But they failed to remember that it was the women's wrappers that were used to back both male and female children when they were small. If at that time, the action of the woman was not against the custom and beliefs of the land, then we are deceiving ourselves.

If you keep women under traditional House-arrest by not allowing them to come out for a number of days or weeks because men are making sacrifices to their gods in the village or town and that you don't want the women to see the men at that time, yet it is the women that brought the men also into this world, are we not contradicting ourselves?

Some people are operating in this school of thought, that female children should not be trained educationally because, whatever she will become in future, she will enjoy all the benefits with the man she will be married to in the future. It means when your daughter gets married, she is no more counted as one of your children. If the answer is no, then the thinking is absolutely wrong as well. There are a lot of married women who have greatly contributed to their parent's welfare because of the privileged positions they found themselves in the society after their education.

(6) These ladies possessed the ability to communicate effectively. They were effective in the use of communication skills. They did not miss their points. They were straight to the point. “Give unto us therefore a possession among the brethren of our father”.

(7) They have the attitude of taking no for an answer. They stood on their ground having known that they were demanding for their legitimate right.

(8) They were not operating with the fear of man neither were they relying on what others have done in time past concerning the matter. “Have you seen someone doing what you want to do? This type of statement or question was never in their dictionary. They said others might have not taken this type of action, but we must set the pace.

Uncommon Results:

When Moses saw their uncommon actions backed up with reasonable, analytical and logical explanations that cannot be denied in the conscience of men, and in the Court of heaven he decided to take the matter to God in prayer for divine guidance. “And Moses brought their cause before the Lord... ” (Numbers 27:5). Moses himself has never experienced nor handled this type of matter. There had no record of any case before now he can refer to as precedence. There wasn’t any leader above him he could go to for counseling and guidance. Jethro (his father in-law), who counseled him sometimes ago on Church Administration was not around and even if he were, as usual, he could only tell him to pray to God concerning the issue. So Moses decided to talk to God in prayer in other to know which way to follow.

Moses action here serves as a big challenge to many religious leaders including those having authority and power to make decisions that may affect others especially Women and the Girl-Child. Moses would have looked down on their actions and classified these ladies as daughters of Jezebel, irresponsible, untrained and proud in nature. He did not act like that rather he decided to pray to God. Moses did not just decide based on his feelings and assumptions. He did not even base his own decision on the outcome of a Committee's Report. 

Because when uncommon actions are taken in uncommon circumstances by uncommon people, almost everybody will go against it until and only until they have achieved uncommon results before those who opposed them will now sing the praises of their actions. (1Samuel 17:28-29; 18:6-8)

Before you achieve uncommon results, all Committee Reports about you and your uncommon actions will be negative and regarded as being proud and arrogant. Perhaps Moses being an experienced aged man of God decided to abandon Committee Reports, his own feelings etc and decided to pray to the Ancient of Days, the Omnipotence God Who knows the actions and motives of all men and women. “There is none holy as the Lord: for there is none beside thee: Neither is there any rock like our God. Talk no more so ' exceeding proudly; let not arrogance come out of your mouth: for the Lord is a God of knowledge and by him actions are weighed”.  (I Sam 2:2-3). Moses' prayer to know the mind of God on issues that are uncommon is a big challenge to contemporary religious leaders. I am sure for a serious matter like this; Moses wouldn't be participating in a kind of prayer that would make him to be sleeping or dozing. He wouldn't be drinking Coffee or laughing with other people during this crucial time when he knows fully that the decision concerning the matter will affect the Girl-Child in particular, generality of the people of Israel and the whole world whose source of wisdom, knowledge and principles are derived from the Holy Scriptures.

Do you seek the face of God to hear from Him before you take crucial decisions in your ministry, family, community and nation? Do you just discuss on a round table conference and decide on matters that perhaps may affect people in a negative way? Is your prayer life effective and prevailing or is it the type of prayer that makes you to sleep off and then you want to decide on serious matters that affect the lives of people? It is good to hear from men, but it is far better to hear from God. Because if you fix your mind on hearing from men only, you might fall into the same problem of Balaam beating his own ass for taking uncommon actions. Yet those actions are divinely ordained to  achieve uncommon results. Listening only to men and not from God will make someone to be resolute, forceful, determined, unbending and rigid in smiting the ass three times or even more when that ass is taking uncommon actions in uncommon circumstances. “…And when the ass saw the angel of the Lord, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff.28 And the Lord opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, what have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times? 29 And Balaam said unto the ass, because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword, in my hand, for now would I kill thee...” (Numbers 22: 21-33). You see from the above scripture that Balaam was on a journey of compromise. God sent an angel to destroy him. Fortunately, God opened the eyes of his own ass to see the angel of the Lord with a drawn sword to kill him. This made the ass to take uncommon action to avoid the destruction coming upon Balaam. However, Balaam took the action of the ass as being rebellion, disobedient to higher authority and smote the ass three times. At this point, God opened the mouth of the ass to speak human language... ‘What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?’ Instead of Balaam to be astonished, surprised, amazed and flabbergasted at this strange event of an ass speaking human language, he responded, “Because thou hast mocked me”. In addition he said “I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee”. Some Balaams has the sword of power and authority to kill the ass under them. Yes, they has power to discipline or  disgrace them. The only way to escape their death plot is by taking uncommon actions at such uncommon circumstances. 

The death traps of present day  Balaams may take different forms. Balaam may kill or assassinate innocent lives like Cain did to Abel. At other times, when physical taken of lives becomes difficult or impossible, they may use the sword of power and authority to administer oppressive acts against the person and his talents. They might also do exactly what David did in his backsliding condition by sending what I call spiritual letter bombs to the Uriahs in other to hide his secret deeds from men          (2 Samuel 11:1-17).“And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which, thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? Was I ever won't to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay ...32 And the angel of the Lord said unto him, wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? Behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me: 33 And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times: unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive.” (Numbers 22:30-33). Do you now see that the uncommon actions of the ass you described as rebellion, proud, disobedience to leadership and naughty were tailored by God to deliver society, community, religious assembly etc from destruction? The action of the ass is similar to that of the case of David. ‘And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy PRIDE, and the NAUGHTINESS of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle. And David said, WHAT HAVE I NOW DONE? IS THERE NOT A CAUSE?’ (I Samuel 17:28,29). Moses overcame this common problem among leaders and the followers  hence he decided to pray and hear from God even though the uncommon actions of these daughters of Zelophehad appeared to the ordinary eyes as rebellion and disrespectful to leadership and of course unchristian. 

GOD’S DIVINE APPROVAL AND LEGISLATION IN FAVOUR OF THE  RIGHTS OF THE FEMALE GENDER

God gave a divine approval to the requests, statements, attitude, disposition etc of these five ladies. Number 27:6 And the Lord spoke unto Moses saying, the Daughters of Zelophehad speak right...” God who knows all things and all people evaluated, assessed and examined them and said, 'THEY SPEAK RIGHT.' God examined their actions, motives, ambitions, disposition, language used, manner of approach, etc which were altogether strange, rare, unusual, uncommon to the people said, 'The Daughters of Zelophehad speak right.' “Speak right” This is a continuous present tense. It means what they said to Moses and Israelites was right and it is still right presently and it will still be right from that moment forward till the end of the world. ‘From the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh.' If what they said was and still right, then their heart was also right with God. It means they were saved, sanctified and holy, yet they took uncommon actions that made people to think they were proud, arrogant and disloyal to leadership. Their uncommon requests and demands were granted unto them by the order of God Himself. “The daughters of Zelophehad speak right: thou shalt surely give them a possession of an inheritance among their father's brethren; and thou shalt cause the inheritance of their father to pass unto them”. (Numbers 27:7). A new legislation on inheritance was given to Moses concerning a man that died without having male children but female Children “And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, if a man die, and have no son, then ye shall cause his inheritance to pass unto his daughter". ( Numbers 27:8).

AN EXPANDED LEGISLATION WAS MADE ON THIS SAME ISSUE: “And if he have no daughter, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his brethren. 10 And if he have no brethren, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his father's brethren. 11 And if his father have no brethren, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his kinsman that is next to him of his family, and he shall possess it: and it shall be unto the children of Israel a statute of judgment, as the LORD commanded Moses”  (Numbers 27:9-11). From the above legislation, even if a man die childless, there is a provision for his inheritance to be passed on to his father brethren and in the absence of this, the inheritance shall be given to his next of kin. All these laws, statutes, precepts and legislation came into existence because of the uncommon actions these daughters of Zelophehad took.

ZELOPHEHAD DAUGHTERS A CHALLENGE TO CONTEMPORARY LADIES: If you are a female child and you think you cannot attain the highest rank in this world, I am sure by now you will throw that idea into the dustbin because it is an erroneous belief and misconception. If the daughters of Zelophehad through their uncommon actions achieved uncommon results in the area of the battle against female gender discrimination, you can do better. You can be used of God to change the customs, traditions, and laws in communities, tribes, clans and nations that negate the dignity, respect and happiness of women and the girl-child in the  world. Today, we have good number of women who have excelled in all professions. We have women Doctors, Engineers, Administrators, Lecturers, Professors, Evangelists, Pastors, Pilots, Judges, Senators, Lawyers, Governors, Presidents etc. yet we must recall that someone among the female gender sometimes ago decided to take uncommon actions to become first in a particular profession before others followed.

WOMEN THAT ACHIEVE UNCOMMON RESULTS

Phoebe Frances: In T776 Phoebe Frances a young black woman, worked as a waitress in a tavern. The tavern was in New York where men who opposed English rule gathered to plan the “Revolution.” Phoebe's lover received word that George Washington was going to be at tavern. In an attempt to head off the Revolution, he gave Phoebe Frances a dish of poisoned peas to serve Washington. Phoebe was outraged at this terrible act. Instead, she warned Washington and threw the peas into the yard. The chickens there ate the peas and fell dead. Her lover, Thomas Hickey, was hanged before 20,000 on lookers for this attempt. The deed of Phoebe Frances saved Washington and perhaps the American Revolution like the case of Modecai and king Ahasuerus in Bible days.

Harriet Tubman: Harriet Turbman was born in 1820 in Dochester country, Mary land. She was the conductor of the Underground Railroad that helped slaves escape to freedom in 1837. She led her own family to freedom, and settled them in Auburn, New York when the civil war ended. She turned her home into a home for elderly blacks. Today, a tablet commemorating the brave works of Harriet Tuban stands in Auburn, New York honouring her. Listed are six words that were used by the men and women. She was a runaway slave from Maryland who became known as the "Moses of her people" over the course of 10 years, and at great personal risk, she led Hundreds of slaves to freedom along the Underground Railroad, a secret network of safe houses where runaway slaves could stay on their journey north to freedom. She later became a leader in the abolitionist movement, and during the civil war she was a spy with the federal forces in South Carolina as well as a nurse. She died in March 10,1913.

Barbara Jordan and Shirley Chisholm: Barbara Jordan and Shirley Chisholm have worked many hours to get bills passed and signed into law. Shirley Chisholm, the Kirst black congresswoman, was elected to the United States Congress from New York in1968. Four years later, she became the first black woman to run for the president of the United States. People often call her a Fighting Shirley Chisholm" because she works hard to make changes for women, blacks, the poor and powerless. Shirley was room in 1924 in Brooklyn, New York. Barbara Jordan was born in Houston, Texas in 1936. An excellent student, Barbara graduated from Texas southern university and attends law school at Boston University. In 1966 she was elected to the Texas state senates. She was the first black woman elected since 1883. Barbara was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington, D.C in 1972 and 11974 respectively. During that time she was assigned to the important House Judiciary Committee.

Edith Sampson:- A Diplomat & A Lawyer: Edith Sampson, a Lawyer and Judge, she was born in 19011 Pitts burgh, Pennsylvania. At age 26, she was the first black woman to graduate with a law (L.L.M) degree from Loyola University Chicago, Illinois. Between 1930 and 1940, Edith served as a referee of the Cook County Juvenile Court, and established her private Law Firm. President Harry S. Truman appointed her as U.S. delegate to the United Nations in 1950. Since then she has held many judicial positions in the courts of Chicago

Brigadier General Hazel W- Johnson: Brigadier General Hazel W. Johnson was born in Wed Chester, Pennsylvania. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Villanova University, her Master of arts in Nursing from Columbia University and her Ph.D from Catholic University! She became the first black woman General; chief of the U.S. Amro Nurse corps in 1982. She has also been a Dean at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Nursing, chief Nurse, U.S. Army Medical command in Korea, and has won many "Award of merit"

Charity Adams: On July 20,1942, the Women's Army Auxiliary corps (WAC) was formed for the first time, black women accepted with whites.

Marcella Hayes: U. S. Army second lieutenant Marcella A Hayes earned her aviator wings, and became the first black woman pilot in the U. S. Army in November 1979. She is a graduate of university of Wisconsin in the Army R.O.TC. Programme. Marcella is the fifty fifth women out of 48,000 officers to graduate from the Army Aviation School in Fort Rucker, Alabama.

Phyllis Mae Dolly: In 1945, the first black Nurse to be commissioned in the Navy Reserve Cops. Miss Dolly, a registered Nurse from New York City was sworn in as an ensign.

Journalist Charlayne Hunter Gault : Journalist Charlayne Hunter- Gault is a correspondent for the Mac Neil / Lehrer News Hours. She was born in 1942 in Due West, south Carolina, and was the first black woman admitted to the university of Georgia where she received her bachelor of science degree in Journalism in 1936. She has worked for the "New York" magazine, the New York Times Newspaper, and with NBC News in Washington, DC. She accepted a Russell sage fellowship in graduate social science at Washington University in 1967. She has taught journalism at Columbia University in New York. In 1968 she opened the Harlem Bureau of York Times, which presented human-interest stories about blacks rather than "Sociological stereotypes".

Gwendolyn Brooks: In1950 Gwendolyn Brooks, a Chicago poet and novelist, became the first black woman to win the Pulitzer Prize in poetry. She is also a winner of the Guggenheim Fellow, and retry workshop Awards. Gwendolyn is also the first black woman elected into the National institute of Arts and letters.

Lois Mailou Jones: Lois Mailou Jones Pierre-Noel has been lied the finest black woman painter. A designer and water colorist, served as a professor of art at Howard University from 1930s until 1970. Lois studied at the Beaux- Arts and the Academic Julien in Paris, and has exhibited one- woman shows in Europe and America, her work has won numerous awards, and recently several of her paintings were purchased for the presidential palace in Haiti.

Nikki Giovanni: Nikki Giovanni has been called the "Princess black poetry'. Many of her poems are about childhood and family. Born in Knoxville, Tennessee in 1943, she has always loved churches and the south. She has taught at several colleges and won many awards for her poetry. In 1971, she wrote a book of poems for children 'Spin a soft Black song poem for children'

Dr. Rebecca Cole: Dr. Rebecca Cole was the first black woman physician in the United States. She practiced from 1872 until 1881. She was also the first black female to graduate from the Philadelphia Woman's Medical College in 1867.

Dr. May Edward Chinn: Dr. May Edward Chinn was born in 196 in Great Barrington, Illinois. Her father, Lafayette Chinn was a runaway slave. In 1926 she was the first black woman graduate from Bellevue Hospital Medical College, and became the first black woman Intern at Harlem Hospital. For many years, she was the only black woman doctor on the entire staff there. Dr. Chinn received many awards and honors praising her work in cancer.

Dr. Mildred Mitchell-Bateman, M.D. Clinical: Psychiatrist and Administrator. Dr. Mildred Mitchell-Bateman was born Cordele, Geogia in 1922. She was a student at Johnson C. Smitl University, the Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania, and the Manager School of Psychiatry. In 1962, Dr. Mildred Mitchell! Bateman became the Director of West Virginia's Mental Health Department. She was the first female mental health chief and the state first black department head.

Dr. Jane C. Wright. Dr. Jane C. Wright, a Surgeon and Educator: was born in 1919 in New York City. Dr. Wright became the first black associate dean and professor at the State University of New York Downstate Medical Centre in 1967. She had also been Director of Cancer Chemotherapy research and instructor in research therapy there. She succeeded her father Dr. Lois Wright, as head of the Harlem Hospital Cancer Research Foundation.

Mary Meleod Bethune: Mary Meleod Bethune was born in 1875 in Mayesville, South Carolina. In 1904, she founded the Bethune Cookman College at Daytona Beach, Florida with one Dollar an Fifty Cents and Five students. She studied at Scotia Seminary in North Carolina and at the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. She won many awards for leadership including the Medical of Merit from Haiti, and the NAACP'S Spingam Award under Franklin Roosevelt. She was Director of the Negro Affairs Division of the National Youth Administration and a consultant to the fending conference of died United Nations. After the President died. Mrs. Roosevelt gave Mary the President’s Can which she used until her death in 1955. Mary was the founder of the National Council of Negro Women, and served as Director of the American Red Cross in Florida. She also was President for years of the Association for the Judy of Negro Life and History.

Rosa Parks Rosa Parks: was born in Tuskegee, Alabama near Montgomery on February 4, 1913. She learned to sew at the Montgomery Industrial School for Girls, and grew up to be a Seamstress. But she grew up to be more than that. Rosa is said to be the “Mother of the (1) VILCI (2) STRIGH movement (3) FUSINREG to give up her bus (4) TEAS to a white man in Montgomery in 1955. This act led her (5) TESRAR, and started the famous bus (6) TOCTOBT led by Dr, Martin Luther King, Jr. Within one year, black were given (7) LANQE bus riding (8) GHTSRI. Rosa was also a member of the NAACP and the Montgomery Voters league.

Alice M Henderson: The Reverend Alice M. Henderson was commissioned a chaplain in the U.S Army in 1974. She is the first woman Army chaplain. Before that, Alice was the associate minister of an African Methodist Episcopal Church in Atlanta. Georgia Work the Crossword to find out how much you know about Alice M Henderson.

Althea Gibson: Born in 1927 in South Carolina and raised in Harlem, New York City. Althea Gibson grew up to be the first black woman in international tennis; she was the first black to win a phonal tennis championship in 1957 and 1958. Althea won the omen's championship at Wimbledon, England. She turned professional the next year. In 1960 she won the world championship in pro tennis, and then retired fourteen years. In 1958, she wrote her autobiography, I Always Wanted to be somebody. She still plays tennis, and also in recreation programmes.

Wilma Rudolph: Wilma Rudolph was regarded as the fast woman sprinter of all time. She broke every 100-metre and 200-metre event of her time. What is remarkable about this is that during Wilma  Rudolph's childhood she was denied the use of her left leg as a result of an illness. In the 1960 Olympics, she won three gold medals in the 100-metre run, 200-metre run and the relay run. In 1960, she was named United States Female Athlete of the Year.

Maggie Walker: Maggie Walker, the nation's first female bank president, was born in 1867 in Richmond, Virginia. At age fourteen, she joined the United Order of St. Luke, a mutual self-hell organization. By 1899, she had become Grand Secretary-Treasurer and was responsible for starting the order of St. Lukes newspaper and department store. Walker became president of the St. Luke's Penny Savings bank in 1903. 

This bank merged with two others on January 2, 1930 to form the Consolidated Bank and Trust Company. Walker moved up from President to chairwoman of the Board of Directors and remained in that position until her death in 1934.

Katherina Clinton: Katherina Clinton is a graduate of Alban State College, Albany, Georgia. She is an electrical engineer at Kennedy Space Centre. Her job responsibilities include the development of mission dependent ground application software. She is the first black woman engineer hired at Kennedy Space Centre. Connect the dots and named this object used in space.

Winnie Mandela: Winnie Mandela was born in 1936 in a small South African Village, Transkel. She studied in Johannesburg, and graduated as Social Worker. In 1962. She was separated from her husband, Nelson Mandela who has been imprisoned for life since 1964 on charges of treason. In 1977 Winnie was banished to Brand fort, a remote area of the Orange Free State. Defying bans made on her protest actions, she continues the struggle to charge the racist apartheid government in South Africa. She organized a soup kitchen destitute, operated a nursery school, and established a medical clinic. As of spring 1986, all bans were removed from Winnie, and she has the same limited rights of all blacks in South Africa. (Niica Production 2003)

RECORDS OF WOMEN IN NIGERIA WHO HAVE SUCCEEDED IN BRINGING THEIR NAMES TO THE BOOK OF  RECORDS AS FIRST IN ACHIEVING THINGS.

Mrs. Funmilayo Kuti: She is the first woman to drive a car.

Ronke Kale: Ronke Kale became the first woman Major General in the Nigerian Army.

Mrs. Chinyere Onyehe: She became the first Nigerian pilot in 1982.

Mrs. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf: Her Excellency, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, a former Senator in Liberia born on October 29, 1938 became the 24th  President of Liberia from 2006 - 2018 and was the first elected female President in Africa.

Miss Oluwatosin Helen Otitoju: Miss Tosin from Ekiti State in Nigeria graduated from one of the best universities in the United states of America (USA) at the age of 21 and also broke an academic record which no other person (white or black) had had for the past 134 years of the existence of that University.

Miss Agbani Darego: Miss Agbani Darego, an Ijaw lady from the Niger Delta - Crude Oil / Gas rich Region, Rivers State of Nigeria became the first Africa lady to become Miss World in December, 2001.

The question we should ask the present day ladies and women is, what will history going to write about them? There are many girls nowadays who are becoming visionless. For such ladies perhaps historians may write something like this against their names:

The first lady who gave birth to seven children at the age of 10 is .... and such like. I pray that will not be your lot in Jesus name. Amen.

The world is in need of ladies who will rise up to take uncommon actions to change all obnoxious customs, beliefs, traditional practices that destroy and humiliate the female child. We need more strategic none- Governmental Organizations who can take this cause of women empowerment and the battle against gender discrimination to the law makers and formulate policies, enact laws, decrees to liberate women from all forms of slavish and oppressive actions against women and the girl-child.

I believe with all my heart that after reading this book you will never be the same again. You will decide to be one of the present days daughters of Zelephehad who will be fully equipped to wage a tireless war against female gender discrimination in your country and all over the world. You will begin the battle and continue until the victory is won.

I want to appreciate the efforts of NGO'S, women dead and alive who have taken the cause of the fight against gender discrimination thus far. My prayer is that you will not relent your effort as long as there is breath in you. 

We have records of women who became the first Presidents in their own countries, Executive Governor and Deputy Governor of States etc why not you in your own country and state? Women can attain the highest rank in any profession be it Religious, Banking, Politics, Academia, Business, Judiciary etc. God Who created woman is waiting for that same woman to excel in life. Rise up and take uncommon actions (but not sinful actions) against female gender discrimination, against the Girl-Child and I assure you of achieving uncommon results in Jesus name. Amen.

Dr. Ebi Nurseman Isaac is an Astute Chartered Administrator, Pastor, Strategic Planner, Organizational Development Expert, School Proprietor, Award Winning Inspirational, Analytical, Motivational and Prolific Writer/Author and one time Chief Press Secretary, Ekeremor Local Government Council and Administrative Secretary to the SA1 to Governor on Religious Affairs, Bayelsa State and can be reached on:  +234(0)703 750 7733  WhatsApp/Text only, Email: derepa@gmail.com