The Luminous Icons of Ultra Violet: Leg Three
Original Story by Aaron J. Sams (2017-09-23)
The third leg of The Joshua Tree Tour 2017 has finished, and like the two legs before it, “Ultra Violet” is featured in the show, and accompanying the song is a visual story, called “HERSTORY”. You can find information on leg one and leg two at the links below:
The visual piece that accompanies the song “Ultra Violet” is a set of photographs of women which play on the background screen while U2 perform “Ultra Violet (Light My Way)”. The piece opens with the word “HISTORY” on the screen, which is slowly replaced with “HERSTORY.” During the remainder of the song the screen is separated in five roughly square areas. One square is generally used to focus on the band. The other four square displays images of women with dates. The images are tinted in bright colours, pinks, greens, purples, yellows, reds and blues.
The women come from a wide range of periods of history, a wide range of backgrounds, but most are recognized as playing a role in human rights throughout the ages. Since the start of the tour, new faces have been added at almost every show. During the first leg, some of these additions were geographical depending on where the tour was performing. As one woman is added another is typical removed, however this has not always been the case. On every night of the tour, except for the second nights in Pasadena, Chicago, Paris and Amsterdam, there were changes in these women on the screen. Every night of the third leg of the tour had different women.
The images on the screen are being developed in conjunction with Herstory. (@herstory_uk/herstoryuk.org) The Herstory project is a project founded and run by Alice Wroe, and the Herstory website explains that they “use feminist art to engage people of all genres with women’s history”. The group hosts workshops at cultural and educational institutions throughout the UK, and have been consulting with U2 on the images used on the screen during “Ultra Violet.”
U2.Com has published an interview with Wroe, who speaks about the development of this piece, and goes into more detail about how the women are chosen and how they are organized on the screen.
The end of the video on the screens shows one image across the entire screen, a group of women, holding a banner saying “Women of the World Unite!” then changing to “Poverty is Sexist” and finally ending with “The power of the people is so much stronger than the people in power”. Bono typically uses the end of the song as an opportunity to talk about One. “Poverty is Sexist“ is also one of the campaigns being run by One.Org, which Bono supports.
Below we are keeping track of each of the women appearing on the screens thus far on the third leg of the tour, and what cities each has appeared in. We have also included a short biography for some of the accomplishment of these women, as well as information about when they were born. As the women are moving about in the screen now, we are now listing these women alphabetically. After the alphabetic listings are a list of organizations and groups shown during this piece on this screen, and then after that, a list of the changes made with each show.
GUIDE TO SHOWS:
[D=Detroit, B=Buffalo, M=Minneapolis, I=Indianapolis, K=Kansas City, N=New Orleans, S=St.Louis, P=Phoenix, SD=San Diego]
WOMEN FEATURED IN THE “HERSTORY”:
Madeleine Albright (*D,*B,*M,*I,*K,*N,*P,*SD)
Albright is an American politician and diplomat and academic and served as the former Ambassador to the United Nations for the USA. She is the first woman in the USA to become Secretary of State under President Bill Clinton. She also directed Georgetown University’s program on women in global politics in the 1980s. Albright was born in 1937. Albright was first added to the screens in Houston, Texas on leg one and appeared most nights after that. She did not get featured on leg two of the tour in Europe, but returns to the screens as of Detroit for leg three.
Margaret C. Anderson (*I)
Anderson is an American literary figure, founder, editor and publisher of The Little Review, an art and literary magazine and also wrote for the Chicago Evening Post. The Little Review was published between 1914 and 1929, and was known for publishing the first thirteen chapters of Irish author James Joyce’s unpublished manuscript for Ulysses. She was convicted on obscenity charges brought against her after the U.S. Post Office seized four issues of the magazine, due to the content from Ulysses as well as publication of some sexually explicit poetry. Anderson lived from 1886 to 1973. She appeared on the screen during the third leg stop in Indianapolis, the city in which she was born.
Maya Angelou (*D,*B,*M,*I,*K,*N,*P,*SD)
Maya Angelou is the pen name for Marguerite Johnson, who lived from 1928 – 2014. She was a writer who focused on autobiographies and poetry. Angelou appeared on the screens every night during leg one of the tour, including the performance at Bonnnaroo, but did not appear during leg two, her image returns at the first show of leg three.
Sharon Sayles Belton (*M)
Belton is an American politician, and served as the first African American, and first woman in the position of mayor of Minneapolis, MN. Belton has been involved in advocating for race equality, neighborhood development and women and family issues. She is a co-founder of the Harriett Tubman Shelter for Battered Women and the National Coalition Against Sexual Assault. Belton was born in 1951. She appeared on the screen during the third leg stop in Minneapolis.
Lucile Bluford (*K)
Bluford was an American journalist and opponent of segregation in American schools. She was blocked from entering the University of Missouri’s School of Journalism eleven times because of her race, and she eventually took a case to the US Supreme Court. Bluford lived from 1911 to 2003.
Ruby Bridges (*N)
Bridges is an American civil rights activist. Bridges was the first African American child to go to her elementary school duirng the New Orleans school desegregation crisis in 1960. She is the chair of the Ruby Bridges foundation, which promotes tolerance, respect and appreciation of all differences. She was awared the Presidential Citizens Medal in 2001. Bridges was born in 1954. She first appeared on the screen during the third leg concert in New Orleans.
Susan A. Buffett (*K)
Buffett is an American philantropist, and her charitable work focuses on the welfare of children in lower income families, as well as sitting on the boards of the Buffett Foundation, Girls Inc, and she was involved with Bono in the Debt, AIDS, Trade, Africa (DATA) organization. Buffett was born in 1953. Her first appearance on screen was at the Kansas City show on the third leg.
Rachel Carson (*D,*B,*M,*I,*K,*N,*P,*SD)
Carson is an American marine biologist, author, and conservationist. The books that she has written includes Silent Spring, a book which changed the course of conservation in North America. Carson lived from 1940 to 1964. Carson was added to the screens for one show on the first leg in Pittsburgh. She did not appear again until the opening night of the third leg in Detroit.
Leah Chase (*N)
Chase is an American chef, author and television personality, known as the Queen of Creole Cuisine. Chase ran the restaurant Dooky Chase, which was a well known gathering place in the 1960s for those participating in the Civil Rights Movement. Chase would house meetings and stategy discussions for Martin Luther King Jr. Chase was born in 1923. She first appeared on the screen during the third leg concert in New Orleans.
Shirley Chisholm (*B,*M)
Chisholm was an American politician and educator, and author of two autobiographical books. She was born in Brooklyn, New York. She was the first black woman elected to Congress in the USA, and she was also the first black candidate for a major party’s nomination for President of the USA, and the first woman to run for the presidential nomination for the Democratic Party. She was nominated the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Chisholm lived from 1924 to 2005. Chisholm was added to the screen for the performance in Buffalo, New York.
Lucille Clifton (*B,*M)
Clifton was an American educator, author, and poet from Buffalo, New York. Clifton served as a Poet Laureate of the state of Maryland for a number of years. She has published a number of books over the years, including collections of poetry, and childrens books. Clifton lived from 1936 to 2010. Clifton was added to the screen for the performance in Buffalo, New York.
Hillary Rodham Clinton (*D,*B,*M,*I,*K,*N,*P,*SD)
Clinton is an American politician, who most recently was the Democratic Party’s nominee for President of the United States in the 2016 election. She has served as the Secretary of State, the US Senator from New York, and First Lady of the United States. Clinton was born in 1947. She had appeared on the first leg in the USA, but was dropped for the start of the second leg, but was reintroduced in Dublin, and appeared at every show from Dublin to the end of the leg. She now is appearing on the third leg as of Detroit.
Mary Jo Copeland (*B,*M)
Copeland is the director of Sharing and Caring Hands, having grown up in poverty, and attempting to help others growing up in similar situations. The organization was founded to help those that could not obtain help from the Welfare system. Copeland is based in Minneapolis, MN. Kuhn was added to the screen for the performance in Buffalo, New York, but it is expected she will appear tonight in Minneapolis as well.
Angela Davis (*D,*B,*M,*I,*K,*N,*P,*SD)
She is a political activist, and author. She was an activist and radical as a leader of the Communist Party USA, and had close relations with the Black Panther movement. Davis was born in 1944. Davis appeared on the screens every night during leg one of the tour, including the performance at Bonnnaroo, but did not appear during leg two, her image returns at the first show of leg three.
Emily Wilding Davison (*D,*B,*M,*I,*K,*N,*P,*SD)
Davison was a Suffragette who was part of the movement to bring the vote to women in the UK in the early 20th century, and was known for extreme tactics, and was arrested on nine different occasions. Davison lived from 1872 – 1913. Davison appeared on the screens every night during leg one of the tour, including the performance at Bonnnaroo and returned to the first two shows on the second leg, but was removed for the show in Berlin and did not appear again until the start of leg three. At the show in Detroit, she reappears on the screen but her name is incorrectly listed as “Rosie Hackett” who had taken that place in leg two, it was fixed for the next two shows in Buffalo and Minneapolis, but again in Indianapolis the mistake reappeared and she was one again listed as “Rosie Hackett” even though the image was of Davison.
Ellen Degeneres (*D,*B,*M,*I,*K,*N,*P,*SD)
Ellen is an American comedian, television host, writer and producer. She came out as a lesbian in 1997, and has been an active advocate for LGBT rights since that time. She is a member of Parents & Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), and she acts as a spokesperson for the Human Rights campaign’s Coming Out Project. Ellen was born in 1958. Degeneres appeared on the screens every night during leg one of the tour, including the performance at Bonnnaroo, but did not appear at all during leg two in Europe. She returned in Detroit for leg three of the tour.
Lena Dunham (*D,*B,*M,*I,*K,*N,*P)
Dunham is an American actress, writer and director. She was born in 1986. She created the feminist publication Lenny Letter in 2015. Dunham appeared on the screens every night during leg one of the tour, including the performance at Bonnnaroo she returns to the screens for leg 2. She appeared every night on leg two except for the Dublin show. She is now appearing on screen on leg three as well.
Ruth Ellis (*D,*B,*M,*I,*K,*N,*P,*SD)
Ellis was an African-American woman, who spent her life crusading for the LGBT and African American rights. She was a lesbian herself, and the Ruth Ellis Center is an organization that is dedicated to helping homeless LGBT youth and young adults. Ellis lived from 1899 – 2000. She appeared on screen every night during the first leg of the tour including Bonnaroo, but was dropped from the screens in Europe on the second leg, returning in Detroit for the start of leg three.
Nawal El Saadawi (*D,*B,*M,*I,*K,*N,*P,*SD)
El Saadawi is an Egyptian writer, physician, and psychiatrist, and she has written many books about women in Islam. She is the founder and president of the Arab Woman’s Solidarity Association, and the co-founder of the Arab Association for Human Rights. El Saadawi was born in 1931. El Saadawi appeared on the screens every night during leg one of the tour, including the performance at Bonnnaroo. She appeared every night on leg two and now returns for leg three.
Melissa Etheridge (*K)
Etheridge is an American singer, songwriter and musician. She also advocates for equal rights for those of all sexual orientations. Etheridge was discoved and signed to Island Records, and Bono joined her on her second album Brave and Crazy, playing harmonica on one track. She was born in 1961 in Leavenworth Kansas. Her first appearance on screen was at the Kansas City show on the third leg.
Ieshia Evans (*B,*M,*I,*K,*N,*P,*SD)
An African-American woman from Pennsylvania, that was photographed being arrested by police during protests in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in 2016 in a photograph that went viral. Evans appeared on screen for every show on the first leg, and for the first two shows in London on the second leg. She was not on the screen for the first night of leg three, but returned to the screen for the second show in Buffalo.
Mari Evans (*I)
Evans is an American poet and writer. She’s been an activist for prison reform. She has also served as an educator at different universities, where she has taught courses about African-American literature. Evans lived from 1919 to 2017. She spent much of her later life living in Indianapolis. She appeared on the screen during the third leg stop in Indianapolis.
Judy Forman (*SD)
Forman is an American community activist, and supporter of women’s rights. Owner and operator of the Big Kitchen Cafe, Forman encourages customers to help through the country, and Judy has also been active in development groups throughout her neighborhood, throughout the USA, and has also given her assistance to building schools in Latin America and the Philippines. Forman first appeared on the screen in San Diego.
Rev. Faith Fowler (*D)
Fowler is a pastor, in Detroit, and she works as the executive director and founder of CASS Community Social Services. The organization is one of Detroit’s charitable agencies, working to provide jobs and homes in the Detroit area. She was born in 1959. Fowler first appeared on screen in her hometown, Detroit, Michigan, on the opening night of the third leg of the tour.
Aretha Franklin (*D)
Franklin is an American singer, songwriter, and musician. She was born in Tennessee, but her hometown is considered to be Detroit where she moved at an early age. Franklin has 112 charted singles on Billboard, she’s won a total of 18 Grammy Awards, and is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Franklin has been active over the years as a voice of the civil rights movement. Franklin was born in 1942. Franklin first appeared on screen in her hometown, Detroit, Michigan, on the opening night of the third leg of the tour.
Betty Friedan (*D,*B,*M,*I,*K,*N,*P,*SD)
Friedan was an American writer, and activist, born in Illinois. She was a leading figure in the women’s movement in the USA, and also known for her book The Feminine Mystique. She co-founded and was the first president of the National Organization for Women (NOW) which lobbied for equal rights and equal pay. Friedan lived from 1921 to 2006. Fridan first appeared on screen during the first concert in Chicago on leg one of the tour and was used every night after that on leg one, was dropped for the second leg completely, and now reappears for leg three.
Edith Margaret Garrud (*D,*B,*M,*I,*K,*N,*P,*SD)
Garrud was a martial arts instructor, and was one of the first females acting as such in the Western World. She was a trainer of the bodyguard unit in one of the Suffragette groups in the UK. Garrud lived from 1872-1971. Garrud appeared on the screens every night during leg one of the tour, including the performance at Bonnnaroo she also appeared every night on leg two and now returns for leg three.
Gabrielle Giffords (*P)
Gabrielle “Gabby” Giffords is an American politician, and was a democratic member of the USA House of Representatives. She retired from politics after surviving an assassination attempt that left her with a brain injury. She is an advocate for gun control, and her and her husband have started a committee called Americans for Responsible Solutions, which promotes keeping guns out of the hands of dangerous people. Her husband is astronaut Mark Kelly, who was often featured during the U2360 tour. Giffords was born in 1970. Giffords appeared on screen for the Phoenix show, it is her first time on screen since the Louisville show on the first leg. In Phoenix she appeared as “Gabrielle” in Louisville she appeared as “Gabby”.
Emma Goldman (*D,*B,*M,*I,*K,*N,*P,*SD)
Goldman was a political activist and writer, born in Russia but later emigrated to the United States, and later Canada. She developed ways of bringing gender politics into Anarchy. Goldman lived from 1869 – 1940. During the first leg Goldman appeared on opening night and each night between Vancouver and the Pasadena show where Michelle Obama took her placement. She would return to the screens for the first show in Chicago and would appear every night until the end of the leg. She was removed from the screen during leg two, but her image returned at the first show of leg three.
Margaret Hamilton (*D,*B,*M,*I,*K,*N,*P,*SD)
Hamilton was an American computer scientist who developed flight software for the Apollo space program in her position of Director of the Software Engineering Division of the MIT Instrumentation Laboratory. She later founded and ran Hamilton Technologies. In 2016 she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Hamilton was born in 1936. She first appeared on the screen in Detroit at the start of the third leg of the tour.
Mona Hanna-Attisha (*D)
Hanna-Attisha is a pediatrician and a public health advocate and it was her research which first exposed the Flint Water Crisis when she discovered children were being exposed to dangerous levels of lead in Flint, Michigan. Hanna-Attisha was born in 1976. She first appeared on the screen in her home state of Michigan, at the opening of the third leg of the tour in Detroit.
Heather Heyer (*D,*B,*M,*I,*K,*N,*P,*SD)
Heyer was a protester, protesting the “Unite the Right” ralley in Charlottesville VA which included portesters representing neo-Nazis and other hate groups. During that ralley, a man linked to these white-supremacist groups rammed his car into the counter-protesters, killing Heyer in the process. Heyer was only 32 when she was killed. Heyer first appeared on screen in Detroit, Michigan on the third leg of the tour.
bell hooks (*D,*B,*M,*I,*K,*N,*P,*SD)
This is the pen name of Gloria Jean Watkins, and is an author, feminist and activist. She was born in 1952. hooks appeared on the screens every night during leg one and two of the tour, including the performance at Bonnnaroo. In Europe she appeared near the end of the presentation, but she has now been moved back to a position at the start, the same that she held on leg one.
Grace Hopper (*D,*B,*M,*I,*K,*N,*P,*SD)
Hopper was an American computer scientist and a member of the Navy where she served as Rear Admiral. She was a pioneer of computer programing and helped to develop COBOL a language still in use today. She was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016. Hopper lived from 1906 until 1992. Hopper first appeared on screen in Detroit Michigan on the third leg of the tour.
Mahalia Jackson (*N)
Jackson was an American gospel singer, sometimes called “The Queen of Gospel”. She was also known as a civil rights activist, singing at rallys to raise money for activities by Ralph Abernathy and Martin Luther King Jr. Jackson would often appear with King, singing before his speeches and at fundraisers, including the night King gave his “I Have a Dream” speech. Jackson was born in New Orleans in 1911 and lived until 1972. She first appeared on the screen during the third leg concert in New Orleans.
Katherine Johnson (*D,*B,*M,*I,*K,*N,*P,*SD)
Johnson is an African-American physicist and mathematician who’s early work with NASA was in the field of digital electronic computers. During her time with NASA she would be responsible for calculation of trajectories, and launch windows for many flights. She received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015. Johnson was born in 1918. Johnson first appeared on screen in Detroit on the opening night of the third leg of the tour.
Marsha P. Johnson (*D,*B,*M,*I,*K,*N,*P,*SD)
Marsha P. Johnson was an American drag performer, a sex worker, and a gay rights activist. She was a popular figure in New York City’s gay scene, and an AIDS activist with the organization, ACT UP. Johnson lived from 1945 – 1992. Johnson appeared nightly on the screens during leg one of the tour but missed a number of shows including Vancouver, Seattle and Toronto. She featured on the screens every night during the second leg, and now returns for leg three.
Grace Jones (*D,*B,*M,*I,*K,*N,*P,*SD)
Grace Jones was Jamaican born, and was a singer, writer, supermodel, and actress. She came to popularity during the 1977 disco era, and later moved into new wave. She was born in 1948. Jones appeared on the screens every night during leg one of the tour, including the performance at Bonnnaroo. She appeared every night on leg two and is now appearing on leg three as well.
Ashley Judd (*P,*SD)
Ashley Judd is an American actress, but these days she’s rapidly becoming more known for her work as a political activist. Her humanitarian work revolves around HIV/AIDS, and she has worked with the YouthAIDS project, she is part of the leadership council for the International Center for Research on Women, she’s been involved with Women for Women International and Equality Now and the San Francisco Child Abuse Prevention Center. Judd also accompanied Bono on his tour of America’s ‘Heartland’ to raise consciousness about AIDS in 2002. Judd was born in 1968. Judd appeared on screen during the Phoenix show, it was her first appearance since she appeared at the first London show during the second leg of the tour.
Saffiyah Khan (*D,*B,*M,*I,*K,*N,*P,*SD)
Khan is a young woman of Pakistani and Bosnian descent who stepped up to help a woman wearing a hijab, when the woman was surrounded by members of the English Defense League. A photo of her standing up to these demonstrators in Birmingham went viral. Khan appeared on the screens every night during leg one of the tour, including the performance at Bonnnaroo. She appeared every night on leg two. She now appears on the third leg of the tour.
Maggie Kuhn (*B,*M)
Kuhn was an American activist and educator with the YWCA. She was born in Buffalo, New York. Kuhn educated women at the YWCA on women’s issues, social issues, and human sexuality. She later worked for the Presbyterian Church, and as she aged she took an intereste in elder rights, and founded the Gray Panthers movement after she was forced to retire at a mandatory retirement age. Kuhn lived between 1905 and 1995. Kuhn was added to the screen for the performance in Buffalo, New York.
Christine Lagarde (*D,*B,*M,*I,*K,*N,*P,*SD)
Lagarde is a French lawyer and a politician, and is currently the managing director of the International Monetary Fund. She is the first woman to head the IMF. Lagarde was born in 1956. Lagarde appeared on the screens every night during leg one of the tour, including the performance at Bonnnaroo. She appeared every night on leg two except for Dublin. She is now appearing on leg three as well.
Jessica Lange (*M)
Lange is an American entertainer, photographer and actress, born in Minesota. She has won two Academy Awards, in 1982 and 1994. Lange also holds a Goodwill Ambassador position with UNICEF, specializing in HIV in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and in Russia. Lange was born in 1949. She appeared on the screen during the third leg stop in Minneapolis.
Wangari Maathai (*D,*B,*M,*I,*K,*N,*P,*SD)
Matthai is a political activist, environmentalist, and Nobel laureate. She is the founder of the Green Belt Movement. She was born in 1940, and died in 2011. Maathai appeared on the screens every night during leg one of the tour, including the performance at Bonnnaroo. She was dropped for the second leg of the tour, but returned on the first night of leg three to the screens.
Moms Mabley (*D,*B,*M,*I,*K,*N,*P,*SD)
Moms Mabley is the stage name of Loretta Aiken, an American stand up comedian, once billed “The Funniest Woman in the World”. She would often tackle topics such as racism. She came out as a lesbian and was one of the first openly gay comedians. Aiken lived from 1894 to 1975. Mabley appeared on the screens every night during leg one of the tour, including the performance at Bonnnaroo. She appeared every night on leg two. She now appears on leg three as well.
Catharine MacKinnon (*M)
MacKinnon is an American educator, lawyer, and activist. She’s long been involved in advocacy against sexual harrassment and pornography. MacKinnon also represented Bosnian and Croatian women against Serbs accused of genocide. She has also served as co-director of the Lawyers Alliane for Women Project, part of Equality Now. MacKinnon was born in 1946. She appeared on the screen during the third leg stop in Minneapolis.
Madonna (*D)
Madonna is an American singer, songwriter, actress and musician. She was born in Bay City, Michigan, and considers Detroit her hometown. Madonna is recognized as the best-selling female recording artist of all time by the Guinness World Records. Madonna also co-founded Raising Malawi, a charity non-profit organization dedicated to helping the extreme poverty endured by Malawi’s orphans, including efforts in education. She has also been an outspoken activist in AIDS Awareness, participated in Live Aid and Live Earth, and the Get Out to Vote Campaign. Madonna was born in 1958. Madonna first appeared on screen in her hometown, Detroit, Michigan, on the opening night of the third leg of the tour.
Angela Merkel (*D,*B,*M,*I,*K,*N,*P,*SD)
Merkel is the current Chancellor of Germany, and a leading figure in the European Union. Merkel has a background as a chemist, but entered into politics in 1989. Merkel was born in 1954. Merkel appeared on the screens every night during leg one of the tour, including the performance at Bonnnaroo. She appeared every night on leg two and is now appearing on the second leg
Reyna Montoya (*P)
Montoya is an educator, a dancer and a choreographer. Montoya is also the founder of Aliento, a community organization in Arizona which promotes community healing for youth impacted by the immigration detention system. She has organized other activities surrounding immigration concerns, arranging to stop a deportation bus, holding reunifictions at the border, was key in stopping her own father’s deportation and advocates for the human rights of undocumented immigrants in the USA.
Connie Mudenda (*D,*B,*M,*I,*K,*N,*P,*SD)
Mudenda is a (RED) Ambassador and an HIV-positive AIDS activist. Connie lost all three of her children to AIDS, but has since had a daughter who was born HIV free in 2012. She was born in 1970. Mudenda appeared on the screens every night during leg one of the tour, including the performance at Bonnnaroo. She was dropped for the second leg of the tour, but returned on the first night of leg three to the screens.
Michelle Obama (*D,*B,*M,*I,*K,*N,*P,*SD)
Obama is an American lawyer and writer, and also served as First Lady of the United States from 2009 to 2017. Obama is an advocate for poverty awareness. Obama was born in 1964. An error was made on screen in Seattle that listed her birthday as 1954. It was corrected for the next show in Santa Clara. Obama first appeared on screen during the first leg, missing only the opening show in Vancouver. She was dropped for the second leg of the tour, but returned on the first night of leg three to the screens.
Sandra Day O’Connor (*D,*B,*M,*I,*K,*N,*P,*SD)
O’Connor is the first woman to serve as a Justice of the Supreme Court of the USA, and prior to that she was an elected official, a judge in Arizona, and served in the state Senate in Arizona. O’Connor was born in 1930. O’Connor was added at the first show in Pasadena on the first leg, and appeared nightly to the end. She did not appear in leg two, but returns as of Detroit for leg three.
Rosa Parks (*D,*B,*M,*I,*K,*N,*P,*SD)
Parks refused to give up her seat in the coloured section on a bus to a white passenger in 1955, and was arrested for civil disobedience. Her defiance became a symbol of the Civil Rights Movement. Parks was born in 1913, and died in 2005. Parks appeared on the screens every night during leg one of the tour, including the performance at Bonnnaroo, but was removed for the second leg. She returned to the screen on the first night of leg three.
Frédérique Petrides (*D,*B,*M,*I,*K,*N,*P,*SD)
Petrides was a Belgian-American conductor, well known for her skill with the violin. She founded the Orchestrette Classique in New York City, which was made up of women musicians, and she also published the newsletter Women in Music. Petrides lived from 1903 – 1983. Petrides appeared every night on leg one except in Vancouver and Toronto, and also appeared every night on leg two. Petrides returns for the third leg.
Khalida Popal (*D,*B,*M,*I,*K,*N,*P,*SD)
Popal became the first female captain of the Afghan National Football team. At the time there were four women on the team. Popal faced threats, and has since retired, but now speaks out on sport as a vehicle to achieve gender equality. Popal appeared on the screens every night during leg one of the tour, including the performance at Bonnnaroo. She appeared every night on leg two. She is also now appearing on the third leg.
Condoleezza Rice (*D,*B,*M,*I,*K,*N,*P,*SD)
Rice is an American politician, and diplomat. She was the second female Secretary of State, acted as National Security Advisor to President Bush, and after leaving politics became a professor of political science at Stanford University, as well as director for Stanford’s Global Center for Business and the Economy. She participates in the “Ban Bossy” campaign, as an advocate of leadership roles for females. Rice was born in 1954. Rice was first added to the screens when U2 played Houston, Texas and featured for most of the first leg from that point on. She did not appear on the screens in Europe on the second leg, but returns to the screens for leg three as of Detroit.
Margaret Ringenberg (*I)
Ringenberg is an American aviator. She was a member fo the Women Airforce Service Pilots during World War II, an organization that has appeared on the screen at each tour stop. She flew as a commercial pilot and instructor after the war. She was born in Indiana. Ringenberg lived from 1921 to 2008. She appeared on the screen during the third leg stop in Indianapolis.
Mary Robinson (*D,*B,*M,*I,*K,*N,*P,*SD)
Robinson is an Irish lawyer and politician, and served as the first female President of Ireland from 1990 to 1997. She then worked as the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights until 2002. In 2004 Robinson received Amnesty International’s Ambassador of Conscience Award for her work promoting human rights. Robinson was born in 1944. Robinson appeared on the screens in leg one, but was removed after the Seattle show and didn’t return until the first night in Chicago.She appeared every night on leg two. She is also now appearing in the third leg of the tour.
Sylvia Robinson (*D,*B,*M,*I,*K,*N,*P,*SD)
Robinson was a singer, musician and record label executive, and is sometimes known as the “Mother of Hip-Hop” due to her work as the drivign force behind several early rap singles. She also recorded herself under the names Little Sylvia, Mickey and Sylvia (with guitarist Mickey Baker), Sylvia Robbins, or just Sylvia. Robinson was born Sylvia Vanderpool, and lived from 1935 to 2011. Robinson first appeared on screen first leg in Chicago and every night after that. She appeared every night on leg two. She is now appearing on the third leg as well.
Begum Rokeya (*D,*B,*M,*I,*K,*N,*P,*SD)
Rokeya was a Bengali writer, social activist and a champion of women’s rights. She advocated that men and women should be treated equal in her writing. Rokeya lived from 1880 – 1932. Rokeya appeared on the screens every night during leg one of the tour, including the performance at Bonnnaroo. She appeared every night on leg two. She is also now appearing in the third leg of the tour.
Sheryl Sandberg (*D,*B,*M,*I,*K,*N,*P,*SD)
Sandberg is an American executive, acting as COO of Facebook. She is also an activist and author, and founder of Leanin.Org. Sandberg was born in 1969. Sandberg was first added to the song for the performance in Santa Clara and she did not appear in Vancouver on the first leg. She is now appearing on the second leg of the tour and was on the screens each night, and as of Detroit, is appearing on the third leg as well.
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (*D,*B,*M,*I,*K,*N,*P,*SD)
Sirleaf is a politician in Liberia, and is currently serving as president of that country. She is the first woman to be elected to a head of state position in Africa. She was born in 1938. Sirleaf appeared on the screens in leg one every night except for one. She was not present on the screen in Toronto which was the first show she wasn’t present, but returned to the screen at the next show in Boston. She returns to the screen for the second leg appearing each night, and is now featured on leg three as of the Detroit show.
Patti Smith (*D,*B,*M,*I,*K,*N,*SD)
Smith is an American singer, writer, poet and artist. She came to popularity during the 1970s in the punk rock movement. Smith may be known among U2 fans by her song “People Have the Power” which was used to open concerts during the 2015 tour. Smith was born in 1946. Smith appeared on the screens every night during leg one of the tour, including the performance at Bonnnaroo. She appeared every night on leg two. She returns to the screens on leg three.
Gloria Steinem (*D,*B,*M,*I,*K,*N,*P,*SD)
Steinem is an American feminist, journalist and activist. She became known as the leader of the American feminist movement in the 1960s and 1970s. Steinem had won many awards and honours for her work as an activist. She was born in 1934. Steinem first appeared on the screens during the first show in Chicago and appeared every night after that on leg one. She appeared every night on leg two, and now returns for the third leg of the tour.
Poly Styrene (*D,*B,*M,*I,*K,*N,*P,*SD)
Marianne Elliott-Said was better known by the stage name Poly Styrene, fronted the punk rock band X-Ray Spex, and later went on to have a solo career. She lived from 1957 – 2011. Styrene appeared on the screens every night during leg one of the tour, including the performance at Bonnnaroo. She appeared every night on leg two.She is now appearing on Leg three.
Rosetta Tharpe (*D,*B,*M,*I,*K,*N,*P,*SD)
Sister Rosetta Tharpe is an American singer, songwriter, and musician. She was active in the 1930s and 1940s and was known for her gospel recordings, and she is counted as an inspiration by early rock ‘n’ roll musicians including Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley. She lived from 1915 – 1973. Tharpe appeared on the screens every night during leg one of the tour, including the performance at Bonnnaroo. She appeared every night on leg two and is now appearing on leg three.
Dorothy Triplett (*N)
Triplett is an American activist. In the 1970s she worked as the deputy director for Project Equality of Wisconsin, which promoted affirmative action for minorities and women. Her passion is anti-racism. She also volunteered with a crisis help line, and works answering calls on behalf of a number of organizations, and training others to do the same. She first appeared on the screen during the third leg concert in New Orleans.
Soujourner Truth (*D,*B,*M,*I,*K,*N,*P,*SD)
Born Isabella Baumfree, she was an African-American women’s rights activist, born in 1797 and died in 1883. Truth was introduced on the screens at the opening show on Leg one in Vancouver, and appeared on the screens every night during leg one of the tour, including the performance at Bonnnaroo. She did not appear on leg two in Europe. She returned to the screens for the first night of leg 3.
Alice Walker (*D,*B,*M,*I,*K,*N,*P,*SD)
Walker is a novelist, poet, and activist. She won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for her novel The Color Purple. She was born in 1944. Walker appeared on the screens every night during leg one of the tour, including the performance at Bonnnaroo. She appeared every night on leg two. She is also now appearing on leg 3.
Madam C. J. Walker (*I)
Walker was an American entrpreneur and activist. Walker made her fortune through the development and sale of a line of beauty and hair products for black women. She took her fortune and was a philantropist, helping to establish a branch of the YMCA in Indianapolis, and setting up a variet y of scholarships. She also lectured extensively on political, economic and social issues facing African Americans, and also served as part of the executive committee of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Walker lived from 1867 to 1919, and in 1910 she set up the headquarters for her business in Indianapolis. She appeared on the screen during the third leg stop in Indianapolis.
Sonia Warshawski (*K)
Warshawski was 17 years old in 1942, living in Poland, when Nazi’s forced her into slave labour, and eventually deported to a death camp. She was liberated by British forces. She moved to Kansas City in 1948. She volunteers her time to tell her story locally in the Kansas City area. She was born in 1925. Her first appearance on screen was at the Kansas City show on the third leg.
Oprah Winfrey (*D,*B,*M,*I,*K,*N,*P,*SD)
Oprah is a media figure, actress, and philanthropist, best known for her talk show The Oprah Winfrey Show. Oprah was born in 1954. Winfrey appeared on the screens every night during leg one of the tour, including the performance at Bonnnaroo but was not featured on leg two at all. She appeared again on screen for leg three in Detroit.
Mary Wollstonecraft (*D,*B,*M,*I,*K,*N,*P,*SD)
Wollstonecraft was an English writer in the late 1700s. She is possibly best known for her book A Vindication of the Rights of Women published in 1792, where she argued that women are not inferior to men, they just lack the education provided to men. Wollstonecraft lived from 1759 to 1797. Wollstonecraft first appeared on the screens at the first concert in Chicago, IL. She is also now appearing on leg two. She appeared every night on leg two and continues appearing for leg three.
Victoria Woodhull (*D,*B,*M,*I,*K,*N,*P,*SD)
Woodhull was an American leader of the Women’s suffrage movement, campaigning for the right to vote by women. Woodhull is recognized as the first woman to run for President of the United States, but there are some questions as to the legitimacy of her participation. Woodhull lived between 1838 and 1927. Woodhull appeared on the screens for much of leg one but was replaced by Hilary Clinton at the first show in Pasadena and did not return until the first show in Chicago. She did not appear during leg two, but returns as of Detroit for leg three.
Robin Wright (*SD)
Wright is an American actress and director. Wright also is an activist for human rights in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and has partnered with the companies Pour Les Femmes and The SunnyLion in activist work in the past. The SunnyLion donates a portion of its profits to the Raise Hope for Congo movement, while Pour Les Femmes makes sleepwear while creating economic opportunities for women in conflict regions. Wright was born in 1966. Her first appearance on screen was during the San Diego show.
Malala Yousafzai (*D,*B,*M,*I,*K,*N,*P,*SD)
Yousafzai is an activist from Pakistan for female education, and is the youngest ever Nobel laureate. In 2012, Malala was injured after a Taliban gunman attempted to murder her, and since recovering she has become a prominent education activist. She was born in 1997. Yousafzai appeared on the screens every night during leg one of the tour, including the performance at Bonnnaroo. She appeared every night on leg two. She is also now appearing on leg three.
EVENTS AND ORGANIZATIONS FEATURED IN THE “HERSTORY”:
Black Lives Matter (*D)
Black Lives Matter is an international movement that campaigns against violence and racism, racial profiling, police brutality and other inequalities in the US and abroad. The group formed after George Zimmerman was acquitted in the shooting death of African-American Trayvon Martin, and the activists have been active under that banner ever since, and have been involved in hundreds of protests. The organization first appeared on screen in Detroit, Michigan at the opening night of the third leg of the tour.
Match Girls Strike (*D,*B,*M,*I,*K,*N,*P,*SD)
The Match Girls Strike in 1888 was a strike in London in 1888 where women and teenage girls went on strike to protest poor working conditions in a match factory in London. They were featured each night of the second leg of the tour except for Dublin, and now return for the third leg of the tour.
Pussy Riot (*D,*B,*M,*I,*K,*N,*P,*SD)
Pussy Riot is a punk rock group from Russia, who have staged numerous performances where they would promote themes such as feminism, LGBT rights, and would oppose Russian president Vladimir Putin. They were featured each night of the first and second legs of the tour and now return for leg three.
Sari Squad (*D,*B,*M,*I,*K,*N,*P,*SD)
The Sari Squad were a group of women, who helped to defend multicultural gatherings in London in the 1980s. They also got involved in political activism. They were featured each night of the first and second leg of the tour and now return for leg three.
Suffragettes (*D,*B,*M,*I,*K,*N,*P,*SD)
Suffragettes were members of women’s organizations in the late 19th century who were advocating for the vote to be extended to women. The movement reached through the UK, USA, Canada and other countries. They were featured each night of the first and second leg of the tour and return now for the third leg.
WASP Women Air Force Service Pilots (*D,*B,*M,*I,*K,*N,*P,*SD)
This was a military aviation organization, made up of women, employed to fly military aircraft under the direction of the United States Army Air Forces during world war II. The organization was formed in 1943 from two groups that had been organized separate in 1942 during World War II. They were featured each night of the tour so far.
Women of Iceland (*D,*B,*M,*I,*K,*N,*P,*SD)
In 1975 to demonstrate that women were indispensable for Iceland’s economy, the women went on strike for the day. 90 percent of women in that country did not go to their paid jobs, and further, there was no housework or child-rearing for the day. The strike was held in International Women’s Year. They were featured each night of the first and second legs of the tour except for Dublin, and now return for the third leg.
Women’s Army Corps (*D,*B,*M,*I,*K,*N,*P,*SD)
This was the women’s branch of the United States Army, and was created in 1942 during World War II. The Army Corps disbanded in 1978 and was integrated with male units from that point forward. They were featured each night of the tour so far.
Women’s Land Army (*D,*B,*M,*I,*K,*N,*P,*SD)
The WLA was a British civilian organization created during the First and Second World Wars to allow women to work in farming replacing men who were serving in the military. The women working in agriculture during the war were called Land Girls. They were featured each night of the tour so far.
CHANGES IN THE “HERSTORY”
As mentioned each night there have been changes made to the presentation on the screens. We attempt to summarize those in this section.
With the start of the third leg in Detroit, Aprha Behn has been dropped from the screen, and up until now she had appeared every night. The women now that have appeared every night are El Saadawi, Garrud, Hooks, Jones, Khan, Mabley, Merkel, Popal, Rokya, Smith, Poly Styrene, Tharpe and Walker. Many of the faces on the screen in Detroit were returning for the first time since the prior North American leg. Of the new faces, Grace Hopper, Katherine Johnson and Heather Heyer appear to perhaps be permanent additions. Other new faces such as Rev. Faith Fowler, Aretha Franklin, Madonna and Mona Hanna-Attisha are likely local additions and probably will not be present at the next show.
For the second night of the tour leg, in Buffalo, the local faces of Rev. Faith Fowler, Aretha Franklin, Madonna and Mona Hanna-Attisha were removed from the presentation as expected, as was Black Lives Matter. In the place of Black Lives Matter, Ieshia Evans returned to the screens, not having been seen since the second leg in London. Also added to the screens for Buffalo were several local faces, Shirley Chisholm, Maggie Kuhn, Lucille Clifton and Mary Jo Copeland.
The four added faces for Buffalo all appeared again in Minneapolis. Chisholm, Kuhn, Clifton and Copeland all appeared. They were joined by three new faces in the presentation, Sharon Sayles Belton, Jessica Lange, and Catharine MacKinnon. All seven of these women were dropped from the presentation in Indianapolis, where four new women took their place in the rotating positions on the screen, Mari Evans, Margaret Ringenberg, Madam C.J. Walker and Margaret C. Anderson. During the Detroit show the screen showed Emily Wilding Davison’s photo, but listed her name as “Rosie Hackett” in error. This error was corrected for the next two concerts, but appeared again in Indianapolis.
In Kansas CIty, Chisholm, Kuhn, Clifton, Copeland, Belton, Lange and MacKinnon were all removed from the screens. Instead the faces added for this performance were Susan A. Buffett, Sonia Warshawski, Melissa Etheridge and Lucile Bluford. For New Orleans, Buffet, Warshawski, Etheridge and Bluford were removed from the presentation and added for that performance were Ruby Bridges, Mahalia Jackson, Dorothy Triplett and Leah Chase. The next show in St. Louis was unfortunately cancelled.
The tour resumed in Phoenix, Arizona, and Bridges, Jackson, Triplett and Chase were no longer present on the screens. Two faces that haven’t been seen since earlier legs of the tour appeared in Phoenix. Gabrielle Giffords appeared on the screen for the first time since Louisville on the first leg of the tour (there she was listed as Gabby), and Ashley Judd appeared on screen for the first time since the first show in London on leg two. This makes the second appearance on screen for both. They were joined onscreen by Reyna Montoya, the only other new face for Phoenix.
During the final night of the third leg, Giffords and Montoya were removed from the presentation, but Ashley Judd remained, her third appearance on the screens across two legs of the tour. The final two women added for the third leg were Judy Forman and Robin Wright. Perhaps the most unexpected change? Lena Dunham was dropped this show, after appearing on the screen every show for three legs of the tour except for Dublin 2. This was only the second show she was not seen. The presentation also updated the photo that accompanies Mary Woolstonecraft tonight, the photo being shown on the screen before the San Diego show was actually Woolstonecraft’s daughter, Mary Shelley, author of Frankenstein.
During the third leg of the tour, 74 different women were featured on the screens. At the end of the third leg of the tour, the only women to appear at every appearance of HerStory (including Bonnaroo) are El Saadawi, Garrud, Hooks, Jones, Khan, Mabley, Merkel, Rokeya, Smith, Poly Styrene, Tharpe and Walker. Every other icon in the presentation has missed at least one show. We will continue to track the luminous icons in the fourth leg of the tour but in a separate article.
Also of note, in sale in San Diego was a “HerStory” t-shirt, featuring nine of the images from the screen. The shirt features the images of Poly Styrene, Sojourner Truth, Begum Rokya among with others on a white T-Shirt. This was the first appearance we’ve seen of this T-Shirt.
All of our Joshua Tree 2017 Tour coverage can be found here.
The following video is from Kevin (kevins2u) taken at the Buffalo concert near the start of the third leg.
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