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- Gloria Steinem co-founded vital groups: National Women’s Political Caucus, Women’s Action Alliance, Women’s Media Center, and Ms.
- Gloria Steinem hired Marcia Ann Gillespie from ESSENCE to transform Ms., correcting White-centric optics and centering Black women
- Gloria Steinem acknowledged learning feminism disproportionately from Black women, crediting them with inventing and sustaining the movement
- Argued Black women were more likely to support feminist issues due to workforce participation and layered experiences of discrimination
- Gloria Steinem collaborated with leaders like Angela Davis, Coretta Scott King, Maya Angelou, and Tarana Burke to advance intersectional feminism
This morning the world learned that activist, journalist and groundbreaking feminist Gloria Marie Steinem passed away peacefully in her New York City home at 92-years-old. Born March 25, 1934 in Toledo, OH, Steinem boldly spoke out about women’s rights from economic equality to the elimination of gender stereotypes and perhaps most notably is remembered for her staunch stance on reproductive freedom for women. Steinem dedicated an impressive 7 decades to the global fight for women’s liberation and intersectional equality. She emerged as a powerhouse leader of the second-wave feminist movement during the 1960s and 1970s. She made it her life’s work to use her voice and pen to dismantle systemic oppression and center the stories of women everywhere.
Recognizing that true change requires both political power and cultural representation, Steinem co-founded vital organizations including the National Women’s Political Caucus, the Women’s Action Alliance, and the Women’s Media Center. She also co-founded Ms. magazine in 1972 and shattered many media glass ceilings by creating a dedicated space for feminist journalism. What many do not realize is that Steinem and the Ms. collective eventually hired former ESSENCE editor-in-chief Marcia Ann Gillespie as the editor-in-chief of Ms. magazine in 1993.
Yes, you read that correctly. Gillespie served as an iconic editor-in-chief of ESSENCE from 1971 to 1980 and played a huge role in developing this brand into a cultural powerhouse that celebrates Black womanhood. Steinem recognized her brilliance and hired her to transform Ms. It is reported that Steinem frequently spoke about how bringing Gillespie over from ESSENCE was vital to correcting the White-centric optics of early second-wave feminism at the publication. Steinem championed the fact that under Gillespie’s direction, Ms. was able to better reflect all women across the Diaspora.
As we celebrate the champion that Steinem was, ESSENCE reflects on more unapologetic ways she reminded the world that Black women should never be forgotten in conversations of feminism, intersectionality and women’s rights through her poignant words and arresting photographs.
“I thought [Black women] invented the feminist movement…. I’ve learned feminism disproportionately from Black women … I realize that things being what they are, the White middle-class part of the movement got reported more. But if you look at the numbers and the very first poll of women thinking about, responding on women’s issues, African American women were twice as likely to support feminism and feminist issues as White women.
— Interview with Black Enterprise (March 2015) via Planned Parenthood
My life’s ambition is to make White women as smart as Black women. Because the group of women who still vote against their own self-interest are White married women.
— LibQuotes
Black women are much more likely to support feminist issues than White women. It makes sense because they’re much more likely to be on the paid labor force than White women. And if you’ve experienced discrimination for one reason, you’re probably more likely to recognize it for another reason.
— LibQuotes
Rest peacefully, Gloria Steinem.
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