This Black History Month, we invite our community to reflect on the pivotal moments in YWCA history that advanced equity for Black women and helped shape the movement you support today. Guided by the words of Angela Davis, “I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change, I am changing the things I cannot accept,” we honor a legacy rooted in courage, resilience, and action.
For more than a century, the YWCA has stood at the forefront of social change, advancing peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. Black women have been central to that work, serving as leaders, advocates, and visionaries whose impact continues to influence how we show up for our neighbors and communities.
From the opening of the Blue Triangle branches in 1918, which created vital spaces for women and girls of color to learn, gather, and thrive, to the Atlanta YWCA’s historic decision in 1960 to become the city’s first public dining space to serve Black Americans, YWCA has consistently paired its values with meaningful action. These moments were not symbolic. They were transformational.
Our history is also one of generational influence. Civil rights activist and suffragist Cora Calhoun Horne worked alongside the YWCA and helped instill a legacy of advocacy that would inspire her granddaughter, Lena Horne. Lena later used her platform to support YWCA campaigns and uplift marginalized communities, showing how change can carry forward across generations.
In the decades that followed, YWCA continued to stand firm by championing voting rights in the 1980s and defending the protections of the Voting Rights Act to help ensure every voice could be heard. These efforts reflect a truth at the heart of our mission. Progress requires intention, persistence, and community commitment.
Throughout February, we will be sharing these moments and more as part of our Black History Month observance. Thank you for being part of our YWCA community and for supporting the work that continues to challenge injustice and build a more equitable future.