Commissioner Theresa Daniel and the Dallas County Commissioners Court
recognize Women's Equality Day
WHEREAS, On August 26, 1920, U.S. Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby signed a proclamation to certify the ratification of the 19th amendment that prohibited denying any citizen the right to vote based on gender. Texas was the ninth state of the Union, to ratify the Nineteenth Amendment; and
WHEREAS, Women of diverse backgrounds joined forces to arduously fight to ensure women’s voices would be heard through their vote. They were able to see the fruits of their labor even though this ratification excluded other groups such as Native Americans, African Americans, and Asian American immigrants; and
WHEREAS, Women continue to take strides toward a more equitable country by taking on leadership roles in government at all levels. In 2020, voters elected Kamala Harris as the first Black and Indian American Vice President making her the highest-ranking female official in the United States history. During a lecture at Spelman College, Vice President Harris remembered her mother’s words which have guided her life, “My mother would look at me and she’d say, ‘Kamala, you may be the first to do many things, but make sure that you are not the last.’ That’s why breaking those barriers is worth it. As much as anything else, it is also to create that path for those who will come after us”; and
WHEREAS, At the 2020 Inauguration ceremony, Amanda Gorman captivated the world when she read her poem “The Hill We Climb”. At 22 years old, she was the youngest, and one who happens to be a woman, inaugural poet and an inspiration for generations to come.
WHEREAS, Women could run for office before they could vote, so that today voters continue to elect women to represent them in significant governmental decision making and support them in having a seat at the table. In Dallas County, two women currently serve as County Commissioners, 40% of the 5 members. Five women serve on the Dallas City Council, only 36% of the fourteen council members. On the other hand, women represent 71% of the Balch Springs City Council with five of the seven members being female; and
WHEREAS, In the midst of a pandemic, we bear witness to history in the making with remarkable women taking a stand and letting their voices be heard in an effort to bring humanity, empathy and equity for women. This year, the theme for the International Women’s Day “Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world,” celebrates the tremendous efforts by women and girls around the world in shaping a more equitable recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and highlights the gaps that remain.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Dallas County Commissioners Court does hereby proclaim August 26, 2021 as Women’s Equality Day in Dallas County. Dallas County joins the nation in celebrating and uplifting women everywhere.
