MARIA 1964
“What did you say it is called again?” Grandmother Pearl asked me, for the third time. I couldn"t lose my patience with those rosy cheeks of hers beaming at me.
“The Equal Rights Amendment, Grandmother,” I said, putting my gaze back upon the pages before me, pages and pages covered in ink, words upon words upon words, still not enough of them to capture the fullness of these women"s lives, the boldness of them as they stood against every wind that would dare buffet them. They stood against blast after blast of it. They raised their hands, unafraid, and met each one with equal force. It was their story… and mine. “Your amendment brought women the vote, but we are still not paid the same, treated the same in the workplace or college. But this is an amendment for equal rights for
