Women's History Month Series: Wangari Maathai
- Aseela Galeeb
- Mar 10, 2023
- 2 min read
Updated: Mar 24
Introduction
The month of March is observed as Women’s History Month. It is a time for reflection, not just for women, but for everyone, to learn from the past in order to better equip ourselves for the future. Elevating the stories of both historical and contemporary women is extremely important, not just during March, but throughout the year. Therefore, every week, I will present to you a quick ‘deep dive’ into one overlooked woman, and her role in shaping the world.
This week, I would like to talk about Wangari Maathai, an environmental activist and the first African woman to win a Nobel Prize.
Background
Maathai was born in 1940 in Kenya. In 1964, she majored in Biology at Mount St. Scholastica College, then earned her master’s degree in biological sciences at the University of Pittsburgh. She then became the first East African woman to graduate with a doctorate degree after she earned a PhD from the University of Nairobi. Maathai went on to become the first female department head there, according to One Earth.
Life and Struggles
In 1977, she founded the Green Belt Movement as a member of the National Council of Women of Kenya. This movement was aimed at women, encouraging them to plant trees and educate themselves on the environment. Maathai knew that planting trees would slow the process of desertification, which is the process of land degradation that takes place when deforestation occurs. By the turn of the century, the movement had planted around 30 million trees, according to Britannica.
But the world is scared of powerful women. In her 1991 article, Dartmouth College lecturer Priscilla Sears wrote, “President Moi described her as a ‘mad woman’, a ‘threat to the order and security of the country’.” Her husband divorced her in 1979, saying she was “too educated, too strong, too successful, too stubborn, and too hard to control.” Though she was arrested, threatened, beaten, and jailed, Maathai continued working towards her goal. In 2004, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her contribution to peace and environmental advocacy.
In 2011, Maathai passed away from ovarian cancer. In a United Nations feature article, it says, “Ms. Maathai reiterated her wish that she must not be buried in a wooden coffin- thereby reaffirming her life-long battle to save the trees and the rest of the environment.” Upon her death, Nnimmo Bassey, a Nigerian activist, said, “If no one applauds this great woman of Africa, the trees will clap.”
Conclusion
Wangari Maathai reminds us that no matter who you are or where you come from, you should do your part to protect the environment and your fellow people. As this great woman said, “They think they can embarrass and silence me with threats and name-calling. But I have an elephant’s skin. And somebody must raise the voice. I might as well have been doing nothing if I did not raise my voice.”
So, to all the women reading this, raise your voice. Speak out for what you believe in. And do it as loudly as you can.
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