JANUARY 25: TODAY'S INSPIRING WOMEN

VIRGINIA WOOLF

Author Virginia Woolf was born in 1882. She is considered one of the foremost modernist authors of the 20th century and a pioneer in the use of stream of consciousness as a narrative device.

Corazon Aquino

In 1933, Corazon Aquino was born. A Filipino activist and politician, she was the first woman President of the Philippines after her husband, Senator Benigno Aquino, was assassinated. She later became the leader of the 1986 People Power Movement which toppled Ferdinand Marcos and restored democracy. She is widely accredited as the Mother of Asian Democracy.

On January 25th, 1972, Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm (D-NY) announced her presidential bid, becoming the first major-party Black candidate for president and the first woman to run for the Democratic nomination. Check out her announcement speech that began her historic run.

Shirley Chisholm

DEEPER DIVE

After reluctantly running for president after her husband's death, Corazon Aquino undid many of the measures instituted by the previous president, including returning an independent court system, repealing repressive labor laws, and releasing political prisoners. Learn more about her role in the Philippines.