Born to struggling Indian immigrants, Kartar Dhillon spent her life fighting for social justice.

Born to struggling Indian immigrants, Kartar Dhillon spent her life fighting for social justice.

Rebel Girls: The Indian American Essayist Who Championed Social Justice and Feminism

Kartar Dhillon's sense of fairness propelled her towards every equality movement that crossed her path, throughout her entire life. Dhillon’s quest for justice for all working and disadvantaged people literally knew no bounds.

Kartar Dhillon's sense of fairness propelled her towards every equality movement that crossed her path, throughout her entire life. Dhillon&rsquo;s quest for justice for all working and disadvantaged people literally knew no bounds.

For Elaine Black Yoneda, it wasn’t a choice. When authorities informed her that her three-year-old son Tommy would be imprisoned in a concentration camp for the crime of being half-Japanese, Yoneda — a white Jewish woman — insisted on going with him. Her Japanese American husband Karl was already being detained at Manzanar, a camp in the desert beneath the Sierra Nevada mountains. Now, just as the Yonedas had adjusted to the idea of a long period of separation, they would live as a family once more — albeit behind barbed wire.

For Elaine Black Yoneda, it wasn&rsquo;t a choice. When authorities informed her that her three-year-old son Tommy would be imprisoned in a concentration camp for the crime of being half-Japanese, Yoneda &mdash; a white Jewish woman &mdash; insisted on going with him. Her Japanese American husband Karl was already being detained at Manzanar, a camp in the desert beneath the Sierra Nevada mountains. Now, just as the Yonedas had adjusted to the idea of a long period of separation, they would live as a family once more &mdash; albeit behind barbed wire.

Rebel Girls: The Jewish ‘Red Angel’ Who Withstood Incarceration for Workers’ Rights

Nabila Mango was a beautiful example of what happens when resistance is also rooted in an overriding sense of unity. Her focus was always on community — local and global. One of her most powerful forms of protest was preserving Palestinian culture for generations to come. (The very act of doing so speaks to the danger the culture is in of being erased.) Mango also had a special way of imparting to everybody who crossed her path a sense of pride and dignity.

Nabila Mango was a beautiful example of what happens when resistance is also rooted in an overriding sense of unity. Her focus was always on community &mdash; local&nbsp;and&nbsp;global. One of her most powerful forms of protest was preserving Palestinian culture for generations to come. (The very act of doing so speaks to the danger the culture is in of being erased.) Mango also had a special way of imparting to everybody who crossed her path a sense of pride and dignity.

Rebel Girls: The Palestinian Woman Who Built Cultural Bridges

In 1982, Filipina activist and community builder Violeta Marasigan was imprisoned under the Marcos regime in Manila. The false charges against her? Bomb-making. Looking back 13 years later, Violeta managed to find humor in the experience. “The only thing explosive about me," she said, "was my mouth and my farts.”

In 1982, Filipina activist and community builder Violeta Marasigan was imprisoned under the Marcos regime in Manila. The false charges against her? Bomb-making. Looking back 13 years later, Violeta managed to find humor in the experience. &ldquo;The only thing explosive about me," she said, "was my mouth and my farts.&rdquo;

Rebel Girls: The Filipina Activist So Unstoppable, Her Nickname Was ‘Bullet’

Judy Heumann never felt ashamed to use a wheelchair. Rather, what she felt most consistently throughout her life was fury at the many ways she was routinely excluded by a world that treated disabled people as second-class citizens.

<a href="https://video.kqed.org/video/brief-but-spectacular-1678142686/">Judy Heumann</a>&nbsp;never felt ashamed to use a wheelchair. Rather, what she felt most consistently throughout her life was fury at the many ways she was routinely excluded by a world that treated disabled people as second-class citizens.

Rebel Girls: The ‘Rolling Warrior’ Who Demanded Equality for People With Disabilities

It never mattered who she was up against, Vicki “Starr” Fernandez was always ready to fight for equal treatment, no matter the venue.

It never mattered who she was up against, Vicki “Starr” Fernandez was always ready to fight for equal treatment, no matter the venue.

Rebel Girls: The Transgender Topless Dancer Who Went to War with Prison Authorities

It would be a gross understatement to say that Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon’s love, and their willingness to speak openly and often about it, impacted America’s view of same-sex unions. The couple spent their whole lives putting themselves in the spotlight — and sometimes grave danger — to raise awareness, and to help women still struggling with their own sexualities.

It would be a gross understatement to say that Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon’s love, and their willingness to speak openly and often about it, impacted America’s view of same-sex unions. The couple spent their whole lives putting themselves in the spotlight — and sometimes grave danger — to raise awareness, and to help women still struggling with their own sexualities.

Rebel Girls: The San Francisco Couple Whose Lifelong Love Changed America

In 1968, Ruth Beckford was known around the Bay Area for her exceptional dance skills. One year later, she had helped launch the Black Panther's Free Breakfast program in Oakland. The program soon became mandatory in all Black Panther chapters nationwide.

In 1968, Ruth Beckford was known around the Bay Area for her exceptional dance skills. One year later, she had helped launch the Black Panther's Free Breakfast program in Oakland. The program soon became mandatory in all Black Panther chapters nationwide.

Rebel Girls: The Dancer Who Helped Start the Black Panthers’ Free Breakfast Program

On Nov. 13, 1856, witnesses on San Francisco’s shoreline were astonished by the sight of a pregnant 19-year-old girl guiding a grand, 216-foot-long clipper ship into port. Mary Ann Patten had spent the previous two months leading the crew and cargo of the Neptune’s Car to safety from Chile’s Cape Horn. That Mary had successfully overseen the ship’s safe passage — even while nursing her ailing husband — made her an instant celebrity. That she was the first American woman to captain a merchant vessel made her a nautical legend.

On Nov. 13, 1856, witnesses on San Francisco’s shoreline were astonished by the sight of a pregnant 19-year-old girl guiding a grand, 216-foot-long clipper ship into port. Mary Ann Patten had spent the previous two months leading the crew and cargo of the Neptune’s Car to safety from Chile’s Cape Horn. That Mary had successfully overseen the ship’s safe passage — even while nursing her ailing husband — made her an instant celebrity. That she was the first American woman to captain a merchant vessel made her a nautical legend.

Rebel Girls: The Pregnant Teen Who Captained a Clipper Ship in 1856

Celebrating the unsung women who helped shape today’s Bay Area.

Celebrating the unsung women who helped shape today&rsquo;s Bay Area.

Rebel Girls

The best the Bay Area has to offer, from the writers and editors of KQED Arts & Culture.

The best the Bay Area has to offer, from the writers and editors of KQED Arts &amp; Culture.

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