Women of Ohio

See a list of all the winners here.

We were lucky to receive this poem from Kellie Kirksey, which commemorates not just one Ohio woman but two: Toni Morrison and Aminah Robinson. What remarkable figures they are!

Toni Morrison, of course, is a Nobel Prize–winning novelist whose work transformed the literary landscape, offering new ways of storytelling. One of her quotations is featured on the front page of this project’s website:

“I’m a believer in the power of knowledge and the ferocity of beauty, so from my point of view, your life is already artful—waiting, just waiting, for you to make it art.”

Born in 1931 in Lorain, Ohio, Morrison went on to change the literary world. She is a role model in countless ways, and one aspect I particularly admire is how she balanced a writing career with motherhood, turning both roles into something fruitful and generative. There are many resources to learn more about her; a good starting point is the National Women’s History Museum: Toni Morrison Biography.

Aminah Robinson, a homegrown Columbus artist, has created striking works that have made a significant impact both locally and internationally. Born Brenda Lynn Robinson in Columbus in 1940, she received the name “Aminah” during a 1979 visit to Africa, which she legally added to her given names. The wonderful website Aminah’s World tells us:

When Aminah was a little girl, her father taught her how to draw and how to make books from homemade paper and “hogmawg,” a mixture of mud, clay, twigs, leaves, lime, animal grease, and glue. The artist used hogmawg in both two-dimensional and three-dimensional work. Her mother taught her weaving, needlework, and button work. From a very young age, she knew she wanted to be an artist and began attending the Columbus Art School (now the Columbus College of Art and Design) on Saturdays while she was still in high school and then continued after she graduated from high school.

Aminah’s artworks are so loved in Columbus, in Ohio and around the world, and she created a lifetime of brilliant work.

It is wonderful to see how both of these women continue to inspire us today. Having Kellie Kirksey’s poem to honor them was a great pleasure. Here’s what Kellie says about it:

My poem ‘I Wish‘ is inspired by Toni Morrison and Animah Robinson.  I remember seeing Daughters of the Dust where Aminah Robinson weaved a deep remembrance of our Ancestors’ greatness, strength, resilience, and highlighted the importance of community in supporting our healing and transformational journey. Her art inspired my voice to rise.  Toni Morrison’s profound writings urged me to be bold and courageous in sharing my cultural narratives.  Her fearless voice taught me the power of storytelling as a revolutionary act.  Our voices are critical, and the liberation of our stories is imperative.  Art heals. Art transforms.

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Dr. Kellie Kirksey is a Holistic Psychotherapist, Author, Speaker, and Social Justice Advocate with over 30 years.   She integrates expressive arts, movement, journaling, mind-body skills, and global wellness practices into her consultations and presentations.  Dr. Kellie founded the Urban Labyrinth Project to bring spaces of health and wellness into Urban areas, and she is the author of the book “Word Medicine:  Affirmations and Poems to Support our Journey.”

Instagram: @happynappyandfree

Facebook: Facebook.com/drkelliek

LinkedIn: Dr. Kellie Kirksey