When I went to see the new and much anticipated film Wonder Woman, I was not prepared for the excitement that surpassed my expectations. Not only was the film incredible, but it also marked an important and timely message of empowerment for women. I can think of no other hero quite like Wonder Woman, who is a great representation of what it means to be a total, butt kicking feminist, and unapologetically so. Gal Gadot did an amazing job in her portrayal of the powerful, beautiful, strong and courageous role of Diana, the Amazon princess and well skilled, trained warrior. I appreciated her humor, beauty and brains, and the fact that she wasn’t over sexualized. She was a hero who fought for the greater good, embodying strength, and love. As a fellow feminist, a number of things resonated with me that I believe were great lessons that women everywhere can learn and benefit from. When the film started it showed an island full of smart, strong, and beautiful women who were training for battle. These women were not in traditional roles as submissive wives, catering to men, caring for children, and silently walking through their town. They were mighty women, who embodied a stature that likely would intimidate any man that dared to cross them, or disrupt their way of life. As Diana was being trained different things were said to her such as, “Don’t doubt yourself” and “never let your guard down.” I can’t imagine better words of training and encouragement for woman of all ages to meditate on, while braving the state of the world as it is today. As Diana boldly and bravely began to embark on her journey for justice she was warned by her mother to remain where she had been her whole life, to which Diana responded, “Who will I be if I stay?” She knew that if she didn’t go out into the world to protect those who needed it, there’d likely be that longing of “what if?” Additionally, Gal Gadot’s dialogue with Chris Pine was funny and a nice touch to the film. They had great chemistry, and while she did appear to catch feelings for him her main priority was to fight for what she believed in. Wonder Woman is a cultural and legendary icon for the masses, and an important part of the history of what it can mean to be a powerful woman.
I’m a Black educator in my fifth year of teaching middle school English, and in my third as the 8th Grade English PLC (Professional Learning Community) Lead. And while I genuinely enjoy the purposeful work I get to do, seeing the growth of my scholars, and continuing to hone my skills in a content area I’ve loved since I was a little girl, I’ve had to confront some unpleasant experiences in this space. I’d been through much worse when I was an academic advisor at a Christian university. Racism, sexism, harassment, and workplace bullying were sadly norms in that environment. However, some of what I’ve experienced as a Black educator hasn’t been normal … It doesn’t seem normal to be the only Black educator in my department – in a predominantly Black school. One of my Black colleagues once said, “It should look like a Tyler Perry movie in here.” But it doesn’t. It didn’t feel normal being reprimanded in a meeting (during my second year of teaching) by an administrator who went in on...