Mary McLeod Bethune is known for her work providing educational opportunities for African Americans, and she also served as a government official during the New Deal and as founder and president of the National Council of Negro Women. Her statue in Washington, DC, was the first statue depicting any woman or African American in any park in the nation's capital. Her home is a National Historic Landmark. Mary McLeod Bethune was born July 10, 1875.

• Mary McLeod Bethune - Basics
• Mary McLeod Bethune Biography
• Mary McLeod Bethune Quotes

Simone Weil, born to an assimilated Jewish family in France, was a religious mystic, professor of philosophy, and social justice activist. When the Nazis occupied France, Weil escaped and ended up in London -- where she decided to express her solidarity with those living under Nazi rule by eating only the amount of food she thought was allowed to average citizens by the Nazis. Her poor nutrition likely hastened her death in a TB sanitorium.

Her works did not become widely known until the 1950s and 1960s. In this multi-page collection of Simone Weil quotes, I've attempted to give a flavor of her writings.

• Simone Weil Quotes

Caryatids
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More Wordless Wednesday:

• Wordless Wednesday - Women's History in Pictures
• Wordless Wednesday around About.com
• See more Wordless Wednesday images on the Net

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• Images of Goddesses in Black and White
• Posters of Goddesses

A few years ago, I saw one of the most powerful documentaries I've seen in a long time. You can now find it in recordings. If you're interested in women's history, in women's sports, in Holocaust or Jewish history, or in a story of the triumph of hope over evil, this movie packs a powerful message. You'll learn about the story of women swimmers of Austria's Jewish sports club, Hakoah, founded to provide opportunities for Jewish athletes who were excluded by law from Austrian clubs. Read more...