We celebrate these four powerful women, the only black female Nobel laureates

Leymah Gbowee

The Liberian peace activist was responsible for leading the women’s peace movement, Women of Liberia Mass Action for Peace. The coalition helped to bring an end to the Second Liberian Civil War in 2003. This ushered in a period of peace and enabled a free election in 2005 that Sirleaf won. As with Sirleaf, Gbowee’s Nobel Peace Prize citation was “for their non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for women’s rights to full participation in peace-building work.

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Leymah Gbowee is the founder and president of Gbowee Peace Foundation Africa. The organization provides educational and leadership opportunities to girls, women and youth in Liberia.