“Our Nation’s story is one of persistent struggle toward equality. Because of the efforts of the Women’s Suffrage National Monument Foundation, the National Mall will tell that story in full and help inspire current and future generations through more inclusive and truthful representation.”
Michelle Duster is an author, public historian, and educator who champions racial and gender equity. She has led and supported dozens of local, state, and national initiatives to have major street names, markers, large-scale murals, statues, monuments, and festivals honor African American and female historical figures including her paternal great-grandmother, Ida B. Wells. She has consulted on many projects, notably with Mattel on the creation of the Ida B. Wells doll and the United States Mint on design of the Ida B. Wells quarter.
Michelle is a columnist and cultural education editor for Rebellious Magazine for Women and has written articles for Ms. Magazine, TIME, Essence, HuffPost, The Hill, Teen Vogue, People, Glamour, Daily Beast, and the North Star. She has also written, edited, or contributed to over 20 books, including Ida B. Wells, Voice of Truth; Ida B. the Queen: The Extraordinary Life and Legacy of Ida B. Wells; We Refuse to Be Silent; and Four Hundred Souls: A Community History of African America, 1619-2019.
She has worked on PBS documentary films and appeared on MSNBC, CNN, WTTW, CBS & CW as well as numerous radio shows. She served as a member of the board of directors of the Chicago Women’s History Center and has been a member of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) for over 15 years. In 2024, Michelle was selected as a HistoryMaker of African American Civic Leaders and her oral history interview will be archived at the Library of Congress.