The Women of the Movement for Black Lives

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The Women of the Movement for Black Lives
The women of the movement for black lives are three ladies; Patrice Khan-Cullors, Opal Tometti, and Alicia Garza. The three ladies have different family backgrounds. They all had encountered racism and discrimination in childhood, which made them active in the fight against these issues. They formed and became leaders of the Movement for Black Lives Matter. This essay will use Alicia Garza's article on "The Purpose of Power: How We Come Together When We Fall Apart" to examine the kind of leadership the three women are offering. The Movement for Black Lives is a composition of over 50 groups representing the interest of black people in the U.S. It is made up of Lawyers, the Center for Human Rights, and the Black Lives Matter Network.
The Background of the Three Women
Alicia Garza was born in 1981 to a single mother in Oakland, California. She lived in San Rafael with her African-American mother and her mother's twin brother for four years. Later, Garza also lived with her mother and stepfather (Jewish). Living in different environments exposed her to mixed-race and mixed-religion. At the age of 12, Garza started engaging in activism to promote sex education on birth control.  Alicia Garza studied at the University of California in San Diego. While at this institution, Alicia maintained her quest for activism. She worked at the Student Health Center. Becoming a member of the student association enabled her to join the fight for higher pay on behalf of Janitors in the University. Alicia was also recognized for organizing the first Women of Color Conference at the same university in 2002. The same year, she graduated with a degree in Anthropology and Sociology. In 2004, Alicia openly declared her identity as queer to her family.
Patrisse Cullors was born in Los Angeles, California, and spent her childhood in Pacoima, a low-income region CITATION Aro \l 1033 (Aron). She studied in Cleveland High School, Reseda. She became an activist at an early age, just like Alicia Garza. As a teenager, Cullors joined Bus Riders Union (BRU). When she was 16 years old, she was forced out of her home when she revealed her queer identity to her parents. As a child, she was a member of Jehovah's Witness church before joining the Nigerian religious tradition of Ifá CITATION Aro \l 1033 (Aron). Cullors has a degree in religion and philosophy from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a Master in Forensic Accounting from the University of Southern California.
Opal Tometi was born on August 15, 1981. She is the first daughter of Nigerian immigrants, leading two younger brothers. Opal's childhood life was spent in Phoenix, Arizona, though she currently lives in Brooklyn CITATION Wil \l 1033 (Williams). She graduated with a degree of Arts in History from the University of Arizona. Also, Opal has a Master's degree in Communication and Advocacy from Arizona State University. Additionally, she has an honorary doctorate of Science from Clarkson University, which she received in 2016. Opal Tometi has been steadfast in the fight against domestic violence, which she has continued to educate the community about CITATION Wil \l 1033 (Will...