Dear John,

Ms . is continuing our celebration of Black History Month by remembering the prominent Black women leaders who were strong advocates of the Equal Rights Amendment in the 1970’s. You can learn about some of these pioneers in Ms. this week: Pauli Murray, Shirley Chisholm, Flo Kennedy and Barbara Jordan.

“Although my motivation, energy and effort to meet the highest standards of performance have been operative throughout my life, I have experienced numerous delays in my career, not for the traditional reasons given for the failure of women to develop on par with men in our society (marriage, childrearing, etc.), but by a combination of individual and institutional racism and sexism—Jim Crow and Jane Crow,” pioneering feminist lawyer Pauli Murray testified at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in 1970.

“As a constitutional lawyer, a woman and a [Black person], I can say with conviction that [Black] women as a group have the most to gain from the adoption of the Equal Rights Amendment. All that has been said about the frustrations and deprivations of American women generally because of discrimination by reason of sex can be said with special force about the position of Black women.”

I encourage you to listen to the latest episodes of our new Ms. Studios podcast, United Bodies with Kendall Ciesemier. On the most recent episode, she chats with comedian and essayist Samantha Irby about how laughter can be a source of healing—and you can check out earlier episodes with Imani Barbarin, as well as Krista Cezair and Brittany Packnett Cunningham, for more on how our relationships with healthcare and our bodies are informed by America’s history of anti-blackness. 

You can also read more in Ms . this week about a newly released study that shows that trans people in the U.S. are continuing to face significant economic and health disparities—with unemployment and poverty rates climbing over the last several years. The study—which, as the only one of its kind, aims to fill a significant gap in data on trans people in the U.S.—notes that the proliferation of Republican anti-LGBTQ+ laws has had a significant negative impact on trans people in the U.S.

Finally, as we celebrate the President’s day holiday this weekend, we’re reminded that in over 230 years of U.S presidents, not a single one of them has been a woman. 

Onward!

Kathy Spillar
Executive Editor

Listen to United Bodies—a new podcast about the lived experience of health, from Ms. Studios, on Apple Podcasts + Spotify. 

Laughter is contagious. It literally extends our lives. Laughter can also help us reckon with circumstances we cannot control, like the ones our bodies put us in. Bodies are embarrassing and laughing about them helps break down the taboo. Essayist and humorist Samantha Irby joins to discuss the healing power of laughter on the latest episode of United Bodies.
 

We hope you'll listen, subscribe, rate and review today!

U.S. democracy is at a dangerous inflection point—from the demise of abortion rights, to a lack of pay equity and parental leave, to skyrocketing maternal mortality, and attacks on trans health. Left unchecked, these crises will lead to wider gaps in political participation and representation. For 50 years, Ms . has been forging feminist journalism—reporting, rebelling and truth-telling from the front-lines, championing the Equal Rights Amendment, and centering the stories of those most impacted. With all that’s at stake for equality, we are redoubling our commitment for the next 50 years. In turn, we need your help,  Support Ms. today with a donation—any amount that is meaningful to you. We are grateful for your loyalty and ferocity.

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