a speech about malala yousafzai

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Malala Yousafzai: 16th birthday speech at the United Nations

"So let us wage a global struggle against illiteracy, poverty and terrorism and let us pick up our books and pens. They are our most powerful weapons." {"content":{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"\"So let us wage a global struggle against illiteracy, poverty and terrorism and let us pick up our books and pens. They are our most powerful weapons.\"","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"}],"nodeType":"document"}}

New York, New York

Bismillah hir rahman ir rahim. In the name of God, the most merciful, the most beneficent.

Honourable UN Secretary General Mr Ban Ki-moon, Respected President General Assembly Vuk Jeremic Honourable UN envoy for Global education Mr Gordon Brown, Respected elders and my dear brothers and sisters; Today, it is an honour for me to be speaking again after a long time. Being here with such honourable people is a great moment in my life.

I don't know where to begin my speech. I don't know what people would be expecting me to say. But first of all, thank you to God for whom we all are equal and thank you to every person who has prayed for my fast recovery and a new life. I cannot believe how much love people have shown me. I have received thousands of good wish cards and gifts from all over the world. Thank you to all of them. Thank you to the children whose innocent words encouraged me. Thank you to my elders whose prayers strengthened me.

I would like to thank my nurses, doctors and all of the staff of the hospitals in Pakistan and the UK and the UAE government who have helped me get better and recover my strength. I fully support Mr Ban Ki-moon the Secretary-General in his Global Education First Initiative and the work of the UN Special Envoy Mr Gordon Brown. And I thank them both for the leadership they continue to give. They continue to inspire all of us to action.

There are hundreds of human rights activists and social workers who are not only speaking for human rights, but who are struggling to achieve their goals of education, peace and equality. Thousands of people have been killed by the terrorists and millions have been injured. I am just one of them.

So here I stand, one girl among many.

I speak not for myself, but for all girls and boys.

I raise up my voice — not so that I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard.

Those who have fought for their rights:

Their right to live in peace. Their right to be treated with dignity. Their right to equality of opportunity. Their right to be educated.

Dear Friends, on the 9th of October 2012, the Taliban shot me on the left side of my forehead. They shot my friends too. They thought that the bullets would silence us. But they failed. And then, out of that silence came, thousands of voices. The terrorists thought that they would change our aims and stop our ambitions but nothing changed in my life except this: Weakness, fear and hopelessness died. Strength, power and courage was born. I am the same Malala. My ambitions are the same. My hopes are the same. My dreams are the same.

Dear sisters and brothers, I am not against anyone. Neither am I here to speak in terms of personal revenge against the Taliban or any other terrorists group. I am here to speak up for the right of education of every child. I want education for the sons and the daughters of all the extremists especially the Taliban.

I do not even hate the Talib who shot me. Even if there is a gun in my hand and he stands in front of me. I would not shoot him. This is the compassion that I have learnt from Muhammad — the prophet of mercy, Jesus Christ and Lord Buddha. This is the legacy of change that I have inherited from Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela and Muhammad Ali Jinnah. This is the philosophy of non-violence that I have learnt from Gandhi Jee, Bacha Khan and Mother Teresa. And this is the forgiveness that I have learnt from my mother and father. This is what my soul is telling me, be peaceful and love everyone.

Dear sisters and brothers, we realise the importance of light when we see darkness. We realise the importance of our voice when we are silenced. In the same way, when we were in Swat, the north of Pakistan, we realised the importance of pens and books when we saw the guns.

The wise saying, "The pen is mightier than sword” was true. The extremists are afraid of books and pens. The power of education frightens them. They are afraid of women. The power of the voice of women frightens them. And that is why they killed 14 innocent medical students in the recent attack in Quetta. And that is why they killed many female teachers and polio workers in Khyber Pukhtoon Khwa and FATA. That is why they are blasting schools every day. Because they were and they are afraid of change, afraid of the equality that we will bring into our society.

I remember that there was a boy in our school who was asked by a journalist, "Why are the Taliban against education?” He answered very simply. By pointing to his book he said, “A Talib doesn't know what is written inside this book.” They think that God is a tiny, little conservative being who would send girls to the hell just because of going to school. The terrorists are misusing the name of Islam and Pashtun society for their own personal benefits. Pakistan is peace-loving democratic country. Pashtuns want education for their daughters and sons. And Islam is a religion of peace, humanity and brotherhood. Islam says that it is not only each child's right to get education, rather it is their duty and responsibility.

Honourable Secretary General, peace is necessary for education. In many parts of the world especially Pakistan and Afghanistan; terrorism, wars and conflicts stop children to go to their schools. We are really tired of these wars. Women and children are suffering in many parts of the world in many ways. In India, innocent and poor children are victims of child labour. Many schools have been destroyed in Nigeria. People in Afghanistan have been affected by the hurdles of extremism for decades. Young girls have to do domestic child labour and are forced to get married at early age. Poverty, ignorance, injustice, racism and the deprivation of basic rights are the main problems faced by both men and women.

Dear fellows, today I am focusing on women's rights and girls' education because they are suffering the most. There was a time when women social activists asked men to stand up for their rights. But, this time, we will do it by ourselves. I am not telling men to step away from speaking for women's rights rather I am focusing on women to be independent to fight for themselves.

Dear sisters and brothers, now it's time to speak up.

So today, we call upon the world leaders to change their strategic policies in favour of peace and prosperity.

We call upon the world leaders that all the peace deals must protect women and children's rights. A deal that goes against the dignity of women and their rights is unacceptable.

We call upon all governments to ensure free compulsory education for every child all over the world.

We call upon all governments to fight against terrorism and violence, to protect children from brutality and harm.

We call upon the developed nations to support the expansion of educational opportunities for girls in the developing world.

We call upon all communities to be tolerant — to reject prejudice based on cast, creed, sect, religion or gender. To ensure freedom and equality for women so that they can flourish. We cannot all succeed when half of us are held back.

We call upon our sisters around the world to be brave — to embrace the strength within themselves and realise their full potential.

Dear brothers and sisters, we want schools and education for every child's bright future. We will continue our journey to our destination of peace and education for everyone. No one can stop us. We will speak for our rights and we will bring change through our voice. We must believe in the power and the strength of our words. Our words can change the world.

Because we are all together, united for the cause of education. And if we want to achieve our goal, then let us empower ourselves with the weapon of knowledge and let us shield ourselves with unity and togetherness.

Dear brothers and sisters, we must not forget that millions of people are suffering from poverty, injustice and ignorance. We must not forget that millions of children are out of schools. We must not forget that our sisters and brothers are waiting for a bright peaceful future.

So let us wage a global struggle against illiteracy, poverty and terrorism and let us pick up our books and pens. They are our most powerful weapons.

One child, one teacher, one pen and one book can change the world.

Education is the only solution. Education first.

Malala Yousafzai is a Pakistani activist, student, UN messenger of peace and the youngest Nobel Laureate. As co-founder of Malala Fund, she is building a world where every girl can learn and lead without fear.

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Malala Yousafzai’s Speech To UN (FULL-TEXT)

Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani teenage girl who became a global beacon for women’s rights, delivered the following speech before the United Nations Youth Assembly on 'Malala Day', to celebrate her 16th birthday

“In the name of God, the most beneficent, the most merciful.

Honorable UN Secretary General Mr. Ban Ki-moon, respected president of the General Assembly Vuk Jeremic, honorable UN envoy for global education Mr. Gordon Brown, respected elders and my dear brothers and sisters: Assalamu alaikum.

Today is it an honor for me to be speaking again after a long time. Being here with such honorable people is a great moment in my life and it is an honor for me that today I am wearing a shawl of the late Benazir Bhutto. I don't know where to begin my speech. I don't know what people would be expecting me to say, but first of all thank you to God for whom we all are equal and thank you to every person who has prayed for my fast recovery and new life.

I cannot believe how much love people have shown me. I have received thousands of good wish cards and gifts from all over the world. Thank you to all of them. Thank you to the children whose innocent words encouraged me. Thank you to my elders whose prayers strengthened me. I would like to thank my nurses, doctors and the staff of the hospitals in Pakistan and the UK and the UAE government who have helped me to get better and recover my strength.

I fully support UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in his Global Education First Initiative and the work of UN Special Envoy for Global Education Gordon Brown and the respectful president of the UN General Assembly Vuk Jeremic. I thank them for the leadership they continue to give. They continue to inspire all of us to action. Dear brothers and sisters, do remember one thing: Malala Day is not my day. Today is the day of every woman, every boy and every girl who have raised their voice for their rights.

There are hundreds of human rights activists and social workers who are not only speaking for their rights, but who are struggling to achieve their goal of peace, education and equality. Thousands of people have been killed by the terrorists and millions have been injured. I am just one of them. So here I stand. So here I stand, one girl, among many. I speak not for myself, but so those without a voice can be heard. Those who have fought for their rights. Their right to live in peace. Their right to be treated with dignity. Their right to equality of opportunity. Their right to be educated.

Dear friends, on 9 October 2012, the Taliban shot me on the left side of my forehead. They shot my friends, too. They thought that the bullets would silence us, but they failed. And out of that silence came thousands of voices. The terrorists thought they would change my aims and stop my ambitions. But nothing changed in my life except this: weakness, fear and hopelessness died. Strength, power and courage were born.

I am the same Malala. My ambitions are the same. My hopes are the same. And my dreams are the same. Dear sisters and brothers, I am not against anyone. Neither am I here to speak in terms of personal revenge against the Taliban or any other terrorist group. I am here to speak for the right of education for every child. I want education for the sons and daughters of the Taliban and all the terrorists and extremists. I do not even hate the Talib who shot me. Even if there was a gun in my hand and he was standing in front of me, I would not shoot him. This is the compassion I have learned from Mohammed, the prophet of mercy, Jesus Christ and Lord Buddha. This the legacy of change I have inherited from Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela and Mohammed Ali Jinnah.

This is the philosophy of nonviolence that I have learned from Gandhi, Bacha Khan and Mother Teresa. And this is the forgiveness that I have learned from my father and from my mother. This is what my soul is telling me: be peaceful and love everyone.

Dear sisters and brothers, we realize the importance of light when we see darkness. We realize the importance of our voice when we are silenced. In the same way, when we were in Swat, the north of Pakistan, we realized the importance of pens and books when we saw the guns. The wise saying, "The pen is mightier than the sword." It is true. The extremists are afraid of books and pens. The power of education frightens them. They are afraid of women. The power of the voice of women frightens them. This is why they killed 14 innocent students in the recent attack in Quetta. And that is why they kill female teachers. That is why they are blasting schools every day because they were and they are afraid of change and equality that we will bring to our society. And I remember that there was a boy in our school who was asked by a journalist why are the Taliban against education? He answered very simply by pointing to his book, he said, "a Talib doesn't know what is written inside this book."

They think that God is a tiny, little conservative being who would point guns at people's heads just for going to school. These terrorists are misusing the name of Islam for their own personal benefit. Pakistan is a peace loving, democratic country. Pashtuns want education for their daughters and sons. Islam is a religion of peace, humanity and brotherhood. It is the duty and responsibility to get education for each child, that is what it says. Peace is a necessity for education. In many parts of the world, especially Pakistan and Afghanistan, terrorism, war and conflicts stop children from going to schools. We are really tired of these wars. Women and children are suffering in many ways in many parts of the world.

In India, innocent and poor children are victims of child labor. Many schools have been destroyed in Nigeria. People in Afghanistan have been affected by extremism. Young girls have to do domestic child labor and are forced to get married at an early age. Poverty, ignorance, injustice, racism and the deprivation of basic rights are the main problems, faced by both men and women.

Today I am focusing on women's rights and girls' education because they are suffering the most. There was a time when women activists asked men to stand up for their rights. But this time we will do it by ourselves. I am not telling men to step away from speaking for women's rights, but I am focusing on women to be independent and fight for themselves. So dear sisters and brothers, now it's time to speak up. So today, we call upon the world leaders to change their strategic policies in favor of peace and prosperity. We call upon the world leaders that all of these deals must protect women and children's rights. A deal that goes against the rights of women is unacceptable.

We call upon all governments to ensure free, compulsory education all over the world for every child. We call upon all the governments to fight against terrorism and violence. To protect children from brutality and harm. We call upon the developed nations to support the expansion of education opportunities for girls in the developing world. We call upon all communities to be tolerant, to reject prejudice based on caste, creed, sect, color, religion or agenda to ensure freedom and equality for women so they can flourish. We cannot all succeed when half of us are held back. We call upon our sisters around the world to be brave, to embrace the strength within themselves and realize their full potential.

Dear brothers and sisters, we want schools and education for every child's bright future. We will continue our journey to our destination of peace and education. No one can stop us. We will speak up for our rights and we will bring change to our voice. We believe in the power and the strength of our words. Our words can change the whole world because we are all together, united for the cause of education. And if we want to achieve our goal, then let us empower ourselves with the weapon of knowledge and let us shield ourselves with unity and togetherness.

Dear brothers and sisters, we must not forget that millions of people are suffering from poverty and injustice and ignorance. We must not forget that millions of children are out of their schools. We must not forget that our sisters and brothers are waiting for a bright, peaceful future.

So let us wage, so let us wage a glorious struggle against illiteracy, poverty and terrorism, let us pick up our books and our pens, they are the most powerful weapons. One child, one teacher, one book and one pen can change the world. Education is the only solution. Education first. Thank you.”

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Malala Yousafzai Nobel Peace Prize Speech Transcript

In 2014 Malala Yousafzai gave her Nobel Peace Prize lecture. Malala Yousafzai is a Pakistani education activist and the youngest-ever Nobel Prize laureate. Read her full speech transcript here.

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Malala Yousafzai: ( 00:05 ) Bismillah hir rahman ir rahim. In the name of God, the most merciful, the most beneficent. Your majesties, your royal highnesses, distinguished members of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, dear sisters and brothers today is a day of great happiness for me. I’m humbled that the Nobel Committee has selected me for this precious award. Thank you to everyone for your continued support and love. Thank you for the letters and cards that I still receive from all around the world. Your kind and encouraging words strengthens and inspires me. I’d like to thank my parents for their unconditional love. Thank you to my father for not clipping my wings and for letting me fly.

Malala Yousafzai: ( 01:30 ) Thank you to my mother for inspiring me to be patient and to always speak the truth, which we strongly believe is the true message of Islam. And also, thank you to all my wonderful teachers who inspired me to believe in myself and be brave. I’m proud. Well, in fact, I’m very proud to be the first Pashtun, the first Pakistani, and the youngest person to receive this award.

Malala Yousafzai: ( 02:34 ) Along with that, along with that I’m pretty certain that I’m also the first recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize who still fights with her younger brothers. I want there to be peace everywhere, but my brothers and I are still working on that. I’m also honored to receive this award together with Kailash Satyarthi, who has been a champion for children’s rights for a long time, twice as long, in fact, than I have been alive. I’m proud that we can walk together. We can walk together and show the world that an Indian and a Pakistani, they can work together and achieve their goals of children’s rights.

Malala Yousafzai: ( 03:49 ) Dear brothers and sisters, I was named after the inspirational Malalai of Maiwand, who is the Pashtun Joan of arc. The word Malala means grief-stricken, sad, but in order to lend some happiness to it, my grandfather would always call me Malala, the happiest girl in the world and today, I’m very happy that we are together fighting for an important cause. This award is not just for me. It is for those forgotten children who want education. It is for those frightened children who want peace. It is for those voiceless children who want change. I’m here to stand up for their rights, to raise their voice. It is not time to pity them. It is not time to pity them. It is time to take action, so it becomes the last time, the last time, so it becomes the last time that we see a child deprived of education.

Malala Yousafzai: ( 05:28 ) I have found that people describe me in many different ways. Some people call me the girl who was shot by the Taliban, and some the girl who fought for her rights. Some people call me a Nobel Laureate now. However, my brothers still call me that annoying bossy sister. As far as I know, I’m just a committed and even stubborn person who wants to see every child getting quality education, who wants to see women having equal rights, and who wants peace in every corner of the world.

Malala Yousafzai: ( 06:51 ) Education is one of the blessings of life and one of its necessities. That has been my experience during the 17 years of my life. In my paradise home, Swat, I always loved learning and discovering new things. I remember when my friends and I would decorate our hands with henna on special occasions and instead of drawing flowers and patterns, we would paint our hands with mathematical formulas and equations. We had a thirst for education. We had a thirst for education because our future was right there in that classroom. We would sit, and learn, and read together. We loved to wear neat and tidy school uniforms and we would sit there with big dreams in our eyes. We wanted to make our parents proud and prove that we could also excel in our studies and achieve those goals, which some people think only boys can.

Malala Yousafzai: ( 08:20 ) But things did not remain the same. When I was in Swat, which was a place of tourism and beauty suddenly changed into a place of terrorism, I was just 10 that more than 400 schools were destroyed. Women were flogged. People were killed. And our beautiful dreams turned into nightmares. Education went from being a right to being a crime. Girls were stopped from going to school. When my world suddenly changed, my priorities changed too. I had two options. One was to remain silent and wait to be killed. And the second was to speak up and then be killed. I chose the second one. I decided to speak up.

Malala Yousafzai: ( 10:02 ) We could not just stand by and see those injustices of the terrorists denying our rights, ruthlessly killing people, and misusing the name of Islam. We decided to raise our voice and tell them, “Have you not learnt, have you not learnt that in the Holy Quran Allah says if you kill one person it is as if you kill the whole humanity? Do you not know that Mohammad, peace be upon him, the prophet of mercy, he says, do not harm yourself or others. And do you not know that the very first word of the Holy Quran is the word Iqra, which means read?” The terrorists tried to stop us and attacked me and my friends who are here today on our school bus in 2012, but neither their ideas, nor their bullets could win. We survived. And since that day, our voices have grown louder and louder.

Malala Yousafzai: ( 11:25 ) I tell my story, not because it is unique, but because it is not. It is the story of many girls. Today, I tell their stories too. I have brought with me some of my sisters from Pakistan, from Nigeria, and from Syria who share this story. My brave sisters, Shazia and Kainat, who were also shot the day on our school bus, but they have not stopped learning. And my brave sister, Kainat Soomro, who went through severe abuse and extreme violence, even her brother was killed, but she did not succumb. Also my sisters here, whom I have met during my Malala Fund Campaign. My 16 year old courageous sister, Mezon from Syria, who now lives in Jordan as a refugee and she goes from tent to tent encouraging girls and boys to learn. And my sister, Amina from the north of Nigeria, where Boko Haram threatens, and stops girls, and even kidnaps girls just for wanting to go to school.

Malala Yousafzai: ( 13:27 ) Though I appear as one girl, though I appear as one girl, one person, who is five foot, two inches tall if you include my high heels. It means I’m five foot only. I am not a lone voice. I’m not a lone voice. I am many. I am Malala. But I’m also Shazia. I’m Kainat. I’m Kainat Soomro. I am Mezon. I am Amina. I am those 66 million girls who are deprived of education. And today, I’m not raising my voice. It is the voice of those 66 million girls.

Malala Yousafzai: ( 14:59 ) Sometimes people like to ask me, “Why should girls go to school? Why is it important for them?” But I think the more important question is why shouldn’t they? Why shouldn’t they have this right to go to school? Dear brothers and sisters, today, in half of the world, we see rapid progress and development. However, there are many countries where millions still suffer from the very old problems of war, poverty, and injustice. We still see conflicts in which innocent people lose their lives and children become orphans. We see many people becoming refugees in Syria, Gaza, and Iraq. In Afghanistan, we see families being killed in suicide attacks and bomb blasts. Many children in Africa do not have access to education because of poverty. And as I said, we still see, we still see girls who have no freedom to go to school in the north of Nigeria.

Malala Yousafzai: ( 16:39 ) Many children in countries like Pakistan and India, as Kailash Satyarthi mentioned, many children, especially in India and Pakistan are deprived of their right to education because of social taboos or they have been forced into child marriage or into child labor. One of my very good school friends, the same age as me, who has always been a bold and confident girl, dreamed of becoming a doctor, but her dream remained a dream. At the age of 12, she was forced to get married. And then soon she had a son. She had a child when she herself was a child, only 14. I know that she could have been a very good doctor, but she couldn’t because she was a girl. Her story is why I dedicate the Nobel Peace Prize money to the Malala Fund, to help give girls quality education everywhere, anywhere in the world, and to raise their voices. The first place this funding will go to is where my heart is, to build schools in Pakistan, especially in my home of Swat and Shangla.

Malala Yousafzai: ( 18:27 ) In my own village, there is still no secondary school for girls. And it is my wish, and my commitment, and now my challenge to build one so that my friends and my sisters can go there to school and get quality education and they get this opportunity to fulfill their dreams. This is where I will begin, but it is not where I will stop. I will continue this fight until I see every child, every child in school. Dear brothers and sisters, great people who brought change like Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela, Mother Teresa and Aung San Suu Kyi, once stood here on this stage. I hope the steps that Kailash Satyarthi and I have taken so far and will take on this journey will also bring change, lasting change.

Malala Yousafzai: ( 20:21 ) My great hope is that this will be the last time, this will be the last time we must fight for education. Let’s solve this once and for all. We have already taken many steps. Now, it is time to take a leap. It is not time to tell the world leaders to realize how important education is, they already know it. Their own children are in good schools. Now, it is time to call them to take action for the rest of the world’s children. We ask the world leaders to unite and make education their top priority. 15 years ago, the world leaders decided on a set of global goals, the Millennium Development Goals. In the years that have followed, we have seen some progress. The number of children out of school has been halved, as Kailash Satyarthi said. However, the world focused only on primary education and progress did not reach everyone.

Malala Yousafzai: ( 21:49 ) In year 2015, representatives from all around the world will meet in the United Nations to set the next set of goals, the Sustainable Development Goals. This will set the world’s ambition for the next generations. The world can no longer accept that basic education is enough. Why do leaders accept that for children in developing countries only basic literacy is sufficient, when their own children do homework in algebra, mathematics, science, and physics? Leaders must seize this opportunity to guarantee a free, quality primary and secondary education for every child.

Malala Yousafzai: ( 23:01 ) Some would say this is impractical, or too expensive, or too hard, or maybe even impossible, but it is time the world thinks bigger. Dear sisters and brothers, the so-called world of adults may understand it, but we children don’t. Why is it that countries which we call strong are so powerful in creating wars, but are so weak in bringing peace? Why is it?

Malala Yousafzai: ( 23:59 ) Why is it that giving guns is so easy, but giving books is so hard? Why is it? Why is it that making tanks is so easy, but building schools is so hard? We are living in the modern age and we believe that nothing is impossible. We have reached the moon 45 years ago and maybe we’ll soon land on Mars. Then, in this 21st century, we must be able to give every child quality education.

Malala Yousafzai: ( 25:05 ) Dear sisters and brothers, dear fellow children, we must work, not wait. Not just the politicians and the world leaders, we all need to contribute. Me, you, we, it is our duty. Let us become the first generation to decide to be the last. Let us become the first generation that decides to be the last that sees empty classrooms, lost childhoods, and wasted potentials. Let this be the last time that a girl or a boy spends their childhood in a factory. Let this be the last time that a girl is forced into early child marriage. Let this be the last time that a child loses life in war. Let this be the last time that we see a child out of school. Let this end with us. Let’s begin this ending together, today, right here, right now. Let’s begin this ending now. Thank you so much.

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Malala Yousafzai: 'Our books and our pens are the most powerful weapons'

This is a transcription of the speech that Malala Yousafzai gave to the United Nations on 12 July 2013, the date of her 16th birthday and " Malala Day " at the UN.

In the name of God, the most beneficent, the most merciful.

Honorable UN Secretary General Mr Ban Ki-moon, respected president of the General Assembly Vuk Jeremic, honorable UN envoy for global education Mr Gordon Brown, respected elders and my dear brothers and sisters: Assalamu alaikum.

Today is it an honor for me to be speaking again after a long time. Being here with such honorable people is a great moment in my life and it is an honor for me that today I am wearing a shawl of the late Benazir Bhutto. I don't know where to begin my speech. I don't know what people would be expecting me to say, but first of all thank you to God for whom we all are equal and thank you to every person who has prayed for my fast recovery and new life. I cannot believe how much love people have shown me. I have received thousands of good wish cards and gifts from all over the world. Thank you to all of them. Thank you to the children whose innocent words encouraged me. Thank you to my elders whose prayers strengthened me. I would like to thank my nurses, doctors and the staff of the hospitals in Pakistan and the UK and the UAE government who have helped me to get better and recover my strength.

I fully support UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in his Global Education First Initiative and the work of UN Special Envoy for Global Education Gordon Brown and the respectful president of the UN General Assembly Vuk Jeremic. I thank them for the leadership they continue to give. They continue to inspire all of us to action. Dear brothers and sisters, do remember one thing: Malala Day is not my day. Today is the day of every woman, every boy and every girl who have raised their voice for their rights.

There are hundreds of human rights activists and social workers who are not only speaking for their rights, but who are struggling to achieve their goal of peace, education and equality. Thousands of people have been killed by the terrorists and millions have been injured. I am just one of them. So here I stand. So here I stand, one girl, among many. I speak not for myself, but so those without a voice can be heard. Those who have fought for their rights. Their right to live in peace. Their right to be treated with dignity. Their right to equality of opportunity. Their right to be educated.

Dear friends, on 9 October 2012, the Taliban shot me on the left side of my forehead. They shot my friends, too. They thought that the bullets would silence us, but they failed. And out of that silence came thousands of voices. The terrorists thought they would change my aims and stop my ambitions. But nothing changed in my life except this: weakness, fear and hopelessness died. Strength, power and courage was born.

I am the same Malala. My ambitions are the same. My hopes are the same. And my dreams are the same. Dear sisters and brothers, I am not against anyone. Neither am I here to speak in terms of personal revenge against the Taliban or any other terrorist group. I am here to speak for the right of education for every child. I want education for the sons and daughters of the Taliban and all the terrorists and extremists. I do not even hate the Talib who shot me. Even if there was a gun in my hand and he was standing in front of me, I would not shoot him. This is the compassion I have learned from Mohammed, the prophet of mercy, Jesus Christ and Lord Buddha. This the legacy of change I have inherited from Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela and Mohammed Ali Jinnah.

This is the philosophy of nonviolence that I have learned from Gandhi, Bacha Khan and Mother Teresa. And this is the forgiveness that I have learned from my father and from my mother. This is what my soul is telling me: be peaceful and love everyone.

Dear sisters and brothers, we realize the importance of light when we see darkness. We realize the importance of our voice when we are silenced. In the same way, when we were in Swat, the north of Pakistan, we realized the importance of pens and books when we saw the guns. The wise saying, "The pen is mightier than the sword." It is true. The extremists are afraid of books and pens. The power of education frightens them. They are afraid of women. The power of the voice of women frightens them. This is why they killed 14 innocent students in the recent attack in Quetta. And that is why they kill female teachers. That is why they are blasting schools every day because they were and they are afraid of change and equality that we will bring to our society. And I remember that there was a boy in our school who was asked by a journalist why are the Taliban against education? He answered very simply by pointing to his book, he said, "a Talib doesn't know what is written inside this book."

They think that God is a tiny, little conservative being who would point guns at people's heads just for going to school. These terrorists are misusing the name of Islam for their own personal benefit. Pakistan is a peace loving, democratic country. Pashtuns want education for their daughters and sons. Islam is a religion of peace, humanity and brotherhood. It is the duty and responsibility to get education for each child, that is what it says. Peace is a necessity for education. In many parts of the world, especially Pakistan and Afghanistan, terrorism, war and conflicts stop children from going to schools. We are really tired of these wars. Women and children are suffering in many ways in many parts of the world.

In India, innocent and poor children are victims of child labor. Many schools have been destroyed in Nigeria. People in Afghanistan have been affected by extremism. Young girls have to do domestic child labor and are forced to get married at an early age. Poverty, ignorance, injustice, racism and the deprivation of basic rights are the main problems, faced by both men and women.

Today I am focusing on women's rights and girls' education because they are suffering the most. There was a time when women activists asked men to stand up for their rights. But this time we will do it by ourselves. I am not telling men to step away from speaking for women's rights, but I am focusing on women to be independent and fight for themselves. So dear sisters and brothers, now it's time to speak up. So today, we call upon the world leaders to change their strategic policies in favor of peace and prosperity. We call upon the world leaders that all of these deals must protect women and children's rights. A deal that goes against the rights of women is unacceptable.

We call upon all governments to ensure free, compulsory education all over the world for every child. We call upon all the governments to fight against terrorism and violence. To protect children from brutality and harm. We call upon the developed nations to support the expansion of education opportunities for girls in the developing world. We call upon all communities to be tolerant, to reject prejudice based on caste, creed, sect, color, religion or agenda to ensure freedom and equality for women so they can flourish. We cannot all succeed when half of us are held back. We call upon our sisters around the world to be brave, to embrace the strength within themselves and realize their full potential.

Dear brothers and sisters, we want schools and education for every child's bright future. We will continue our journey to our destination of peace and education. No one can stop us. We will speak up for our rights and we will bring change to our voice. We believe in the power and the strength of our words. Our words can change the whole world because we ware all together, united for the cause of education. And if we want to achieve our goal, then let us empower ourselves with the weapon of knowledge and let us shield ourselves with unity and togetherness.

Dear brothers and sisters, we must not forget that millions of people are suffering from poverty and injustice and ignorance. We must not forget that millions of children are out of their schools. We must not forget that our sisters and brothers are waiting for a bright, peaceful future.

So let us wage, so let us wage a glorious struggle against illiteracy, poverty and terrorism, let us pick up our books and our pens, they are the most powerful weapons. One child, one teacher, one book and one pen can change the world. Education is the only solution. Education first. Thank you.

• Civil liberties - international
• United Nations

Most viewed

UN Speech on Youth Education - July 12, 2013

Yousafzai gave this speech to the United Nations on July 12, 2013, her 16th birthday and "Malala Day" at the United Nations.

In the name of God, the most beneficent, the most merciful.

Honorable UN Secretary General Mr Ban Ki-moon, respected president of the General Assembly Vuk Jeremic, honorable UN envoy for global education Mr Gordon Brown, respected elders and my dear brothers and sisters: Assalamu alaikum.

Today is it an honor for me to be speaking again after a long time. Being here with such honorable people is a great moment in my life and it is an honor for me that today I am wearing a shawl of the late Benazir Bhutto. I don't know where to begin my speech. I don't know what people would be expecting me to say, but first of all thank you to God for whom we all are equal and thank you to every person who has prayed for my fast recovery and new life. I cannot believe how much love people have shown me. I have received thousands of good wish cards and gifts from all over the world. Thank you to all of them. Thank you to the children whose innocent words encouraged me. Thank you to my elders whose prayers strengthened me. I would like to thank my nurses, doctors and the staff of the hospitals in Pakistan and the UK and the UAE government who have helped me to get better and recover my strength.

I fully support UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in his Global Education First Initiative and the work of UN Special Envoy for Global Education Gordon Brown and the respectful president of the UN General Assembly Vuk Jeremic. I thank them for the leadership they continue to give. They continue to inspire all of us to action. Dear brothers and sisters, do remember one thing: Malala Day is not my day. Today is the day of every woman, every boy and every girl who have raised their voice for their rights.

There are hundreds of human rights activists and social workers who are not only speaking for their rights, but who are struggling to achieve their goal of peace, education and equality. Thousands of people have been killed by the terrorists and millions have been injured. I am just one of them. So here I stand. So here I stand, one girl, among many. I speak not for myself, but so those without a voice can be heard. Those who have fought for their rights. Their right to live in peace. Their right to be treated with dignity. Their right to equality of opportunity. Their right to be educated.

Dear friends, on 9 October 2012, the Taliban shot me on the left side of my forehead. They shot my friends, too. They thought that the bullets would silence us, but they failed. And out of that silence came thousands of voices. The terrorists thought they would change my aims and stop my ambitions. But nothing changed in my life except this: weakness, fear and hopelessness died. Strength, power and courage was born.

I am the same Malala. My ambitions are the same. My hopes are the same. And my dreams are the same. Dear sisters and brothers, I am not against anyone. Neither am I here to speak in terms of personal revenge against the Taliban or any other terrorist group. I am here to speak for the right of education for every child. I want education for the sons and daughters of the Taliban and all the terrorists and extremists. I do not even hate the Talib who shot me. Even if there was a gun in my hand and he was standing in front of me, I would not shoot him. This is the compassion I have learned from Mohammed, the prophet of mercy, Jesus Christ and Lord Buddha. This the legacy of change I have inherited from Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela and Mohammed Ali Jinnah.

This is the philosophy of nonviolence that I have learned from Gandhi, Bacha Khan and Mother Teresa. And this is the forgiveness that I have learned from my father and from my mother. This is what my soul is telling me: be peaceful and love everyone.

Dear sisters and brothers, we realize the importance of light when we see darkness. We realize the importance of our voice when we are silenced. In the same way, when we were in Swat, the north of Pakistan, we realized the importance of pens and books when we saw the guns. The wise saying, "The pen is mightier than the sword." It is true. The extremists are afraid of books and pens. The power of education frightens them. They are afraid of women. The power of the voice of women frightens them. This is why they killed 14 innocent students in the recent attack in Quetta. And that is why they kill female teachers. That is why they are blasting schools every day because they were and they are afraid of change and equality that we will bring to our society. And I remember that there was a boy in our school who was asked by a journalist why are the Taliban against education? He answered very simply by pointing to his book, he said, "a Talib doesn't know what is written inside this book."

They think that God is a tiny, little conservative being who would point guns at people's heads just for going to school. These terrorists are misusing the name of Islam for their own personal benefit. Pakistan is a peace loving, democratic country. Pashtuns want education for their daughters and sons. Islam is a religion of peace, humanity and brotherhood. It is the duty and responsibility to get education for each child, that is what it says. Peace is a necessity for education. In many parts of the world, especially Pakistan and Afghanistan, terrorism, war and conflicts stop children from going to schools. We are really tired of these wars. Women and children are suffering in many ways in many parts of the world.

In India, innocent and poor children are victims of child labor. Many schools have been destroyed in Nigeria. People in Afghanistan have been affected by extremism. Young girls have to do domestic child labor and are forced to get married at an early age. Poverty, ignorance, injustice, racism and the deprivation of basic rights are the main problems, faced by both men and women.

Today I am focusing on women's rights and girls' education because they are suffering the most. There was a time when women activists asked men to stand up for their rights. But this time we will do it by ourselves. I am not telling men to step away from speaking for women's rights, but I am focusing on women to be independent and fight for themselves. So dear sisters and brothers, now it's time to speak up. So today, we call upon the world leaders to change their strategic policies in favor of peace and prosperity. We call upon the world leaders that all of these deals must protect women and children's rights. A deal that goes against the rights of women is unacceptable.

We call upon all governments to ensure free, compulsory education all over the world for every child. We call upon all the governments to fight against terrorism and violence. To protect children from brutality and harm. We call upon the developed nations to support the expansion of education opportunities for girls in the developing world. We call upon all communities to be tolerant, to reject prejudice based on caste, creed, sect, color, religion or agenda to ensure freedom and equality for women so they can flourish. We cannot all succeed when half of us are held back. We call upon our sisters around the world to be brave, to embrace the strength within themselves and realize their full potential.

Dear brothers and sisters, we want schools and education for every child's bright future. We will continue our journey to our destination of peace and education. No one can stop us. We will speak up for our rights and we will bring change to our voice. We believe in the power and the strength of our words. Our words can change the whole world because we ware all together, united for the cause of education. And if we want to achieve our goal, then let us empower ourselves with the weapon of knowledge and let us shield ourselves with unity and togetherness.

Dear brothers and sisters, we must not forget that millions of people are suffering from poverty and injustice and ignorance. We must not forget that millions of children are out of their schools. We must not forget that our sisters and brothers are waiting for a bright, peaceful future.

So let us wage, so let us wage a glorious struggle against illiteracy, poverty and terrorism, let us pick up our books and our pens, they are the most powerful weapons. One child, one teacher, one book and one pen can change the world. Education is the only solution. Education first. Thank you.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/jul/12/malala-yousafzai-united-nations-education-speech-text

Neither the Catt Center nor Iowa State University is affiliated with any individual in the Archives or any political party. Inclusion in the Archives is not an endorsement by the center or the university.

Watch CBS News

Hillary Clinton, Malala Yousafzai on producing Broadway musical "Suffs"

By Martha Teichner

March 31, 2024 / 9:42 AM EDT / CBS News

In school, did you learn anything about the women's suffrage movement, other than maybe that it wasn't until 1920 that a Constitutional amendment gave women throughout the United States the right to vote? No? Well, there's a Broadway show for that.

"Suffs," short for suffragists (don't call them suffragettes, it's considered sexist), is now in previews.

"I knew hardly anything about the suffragists," said Shaina Taub, the show's star and writer. "I think I knew basic information about Susan B. Anthony. I heard of Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and vaguely knew there was a women's rights convention in the 19th century that kind of kicked it off. And that was it."

The musical picks up the story in 1913, the year thousands of suffragists staged the first-ever big political march on Washington, many wearing white, led by a woman on a white horse.

The march was organized by Alice Paul. "Suffs" spotlights the cause, warts and all, including the rivalry between Paul (played by Taub) and Carrie Chapman Catt (played by Jenn Colella), equally dedicated titans of the movement, but from different generations employing very different tactics. "This is not ancient history," said Taub. "We can reach back and touch the suffs. Alice Paul lived until 1977 .

"These rights were not inevitable; every generation has to fight to protect these rights and freedoms again and again and again," Taub said.

Lucy Burns was jailed, tortured and force-fed – imprisoned longer than any other suffragist. Ally Bonino said of playing Burns, "It's the sundae on top of the dream sundae."     

As ambassadors for the show's message, Nobel Prize-winner Malala Yousafzai (who was shot in the head after advocating for girls' education in Pakistan) and Hillary Clinton (who came so close to being elected the first woman President of the United States) were named producers.

"It was so powerful to me," Yousafzai said during a rehearsal. "All these incredible characters, and [to] see all the complexity behind all that struggle."

Their presence was like extra juice for actors already stoked to be in a show that's more than the sum of the parts they play.

Colella (whose character, Carrie Chapman Catt, went on to found the League of Women Voters), said, "I'm a new mother. I'm doing this now so that her voice can be more easily amplified when she's able to speak."

Nikki James is the crusading Black journalist, Ida B. Wells. "It reminds us that what we're doing is bigger than just us, than just play, than just storytelling," James said.

"Suffs" doesn't shy away from the fact that the women's suffrage movement discriminated against Black women. 

What looked like a genuine sisterhood developed over a month of "Suffs" rehearsals. Practically everybody involved in the show is female. 

Teichner asked Yousafzai, "For you to lend your name and your reputation, it has to be pretty meaningful. What is the major reason why you said yes to 'Suffs'?"

"It carries a very strong message for women and girls that the fight may not be over yet," Yousafzai replied. "Of course, I talk about serious things. But I also believe that sometimes it's not a speech, sometimes it's not a protest that can make it all happen. When I think about a musical, for me, it's a tool, it's a platform where you are spreading that message, but at the same time, people are enjoying it."

By the time the cast and orchestra were rehearsing together, they all seemed to be having a rollicking good time. Clinton herself was fired up: "I'm going to go out marching to do something!" she exclaimed. "I cannot tell you, it's such a joy. It's going to change history."

When asked why she was interested in producing a Broadway show, Clinton said, "Last summer I got a letter from Shaina asking me if I would be willing to be a producer. And you know, I had never done anything like that before. I'm a huge fan of the theater. But I said, 'Sure. I'll try, if I can be helpful.'

"We're in the middle of an election year, and I think any conversation about getting people to vote, how it took so long for women to get the right to vote, how you should not throw away [or] ignore the power of your vote, I think all of that is good," Clinton said. "This is so meaningful, and truly historic, because women's history doesn't get told in a way that's accessible and so exciting and true."

Teichner said, "But it's more than that with you. It is your life."

"It is my life!" Clinton said. "Keep fighting, keep marching, keep trying. You know, what's that great line in one of the songs: Progress is possible, but not guaranteed . That's how I feel about the whole life that I've led, the progress that I've seen."

On the first night of previews, women showed up wearing suffragist white, and put on the sashes they found on their seats. Maybe, that might just keep happening.

For more info:

• "Suffs,"  at the Music Box Theatre, New York City |  Ticket info

         Story produced by Sara Kugel. Editor: Lauren Barnello. 

       See also: 

• How suffragists finally won the right to vote for women ("Sunday Morning")
• A tribute to monumental women ("Sunday Morning")
• Testimonies to Susan B. Anthony ("Sunday Morning")
• Malala Yousafzai
• Hillary Clinton

Martha Teichner has been a correspondent for "CBS News Sunday Morning" since December 1993, where she's equally adept at covering major national and international breaking news stories as she is handling in-depth cultural and arts topics.

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Speech on Malala Yousafzai

Meet Malala Yousafzai, a brave girl from Pakistan. She fought for girls’ rights to education even when it was dangerous. She’s not just a survivor, but also the youngest person to win the Nobel Peace Prize. You’ll be amazed by her courage and determination.

1-minute Speech on Malala Yousafzai

Ladies and gentlemen, I am honored to speak about an extraordinary personality, Malala Yousafzai.

Born in the Swat valley of Pakistan, Malala is a symbol of courage and determination. Despite cultural norms and Taliban threats, she pursued her right to education, a journey that wasn’t easy. At just 15, she was shot by a Taliban gunman, a tragic event that shocked the world. But Malala, resilient as ever, survived and continued her advocacy.

Malala’s work is a testament to the power of education. She proved that no matter how young you are, you can make a difference. Her courage reached worldwide, prompting global leaders to take up the issue of children’s education. At 17, she became the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, a fitting recognition for her incredible bravery and commitment.

Her life and work serve as a beacon of inspiration for all, especially young girls. She sends a clear message: education should not be a privilege but a basic human right. Malala’s story is not just about the struggle for education, but also about a young girl’s determination to stand up against injustice despite the odds.

In conclusion, Malala Yousafzai is not just a person, but a movement, a symbol of resistance, and an inspiration for all of us. Her message resonates globally: education is the most powerful tool you can use to change the world. Let’s honour Malala’s courage by ensuring every child, regardless of their gender or location, has access to quality education.

2-minute Speech on Malala Yousafzai

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I stand before you today to discuss an individual who has inspired millions globally, Malala Yousafzai. Malala is not just a name, it’s a beacon of hope, a symbol of resilience, and the personification of the fight for girls’ right to education.

Born on July 12, 1997, in Mingora, Pakistan, Malala was raised in a family where education was highly valued. Her father, a teacher, always encouraged her to learn and grow. From a very young age, she showed an eagerness to learn and an outspokenness that would later become her strength.

However, her life took a drastic turn in 2007, when the Taliban gained control over Swat Valley, where she lived. They banned girls from attending school, asserting their archaic views and oppressing the basic rights of education. But Malala, a mere child then, decided to raise her voice against this injustice. Her courage was exhibited when she started writing a blog for BBC Urdu under a pseudonym, where she discussed life under the Taliban and her strong desire to learn.

But her defiance did not go unnoticed. On October 9, 2012, a tragedy that shocked the world occurred – Malala was shot by the Taliban. But even this horrifying act could not deter her spirit. She fought for her life and survived. This incident gave her a larger platform and amplified her voice against the denial of education to girls.

After her recovery, Malala did not back down; instead, she became more committed to her cause. In 2013, she delivered a powerful speech at the United Nations on her 16th birthday, the same year she released her memoir, ‘I Am Malala’. By sharing her journey, she created an international consciousness about the oppression many girls face in their pursuit of education.

In 2014, her relentless advocacy for girls’ education was recognized globally when she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, making her the youngest-ever laureate. This recognition was not just for Malala but for every girl who has been denied the right to education. It was a win for all voices that go unheard, for all the struggles that go unnoticed.

Today, through the Malala Fund, she continues her fight for girls’ education, advocating for policies and generating funds to ensure every girl has 12 years of free, safe and quality education. Her story and her work remind us that education is not a privilege but a fundamental right for all.

Malala Yousafzai’s life is a testament to the fact that age, gender, or circumstances should not limit one’s aspirations. Despite facing adversity, she stood tall, turning her ordeal into a platform to uplift others. Her courageous spirit inspires us to stand up for our rights and fight for what we believe in.

In conclusion, Malala Yousafzai is a shining example of courage, resilience, and the power of education. She has shown us that no voice is too small to make a difference, and no dream is too big to achieve. Her story inspires us to believe in the power of one’s voice to change the world. As we gather here today, let us take a moment to acknowledge the strength and courage of this remarkable young woman and let her story inspire us to strive for change in our communities.

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In an Election Year, ‘Suffs’ Takes a Political Battle to Broadway

As Shaina Taub’s musical opens, the show’s team members, including Hillary Clinton, say they’re ready to give the women’s suffrage movement a bigger platform.

• Share full article

By Laura Zornosa

Shaina Taub was ready to watch Hillary Clinton win in November 2016. She had been at Harvard, doing research for an ambitious musical about the women’s suffrage movement , and was swept up in what felt like the inevitable: a woman elected president of the United States. Taub had traveled to New York City from Cambridge for election night, eager to cheer on Clinton, whom she had phone banked for.

But Clinton lost, and Taub was utterly deflated. Returning to Cambridge to work on a show about triumphant women was the last thing she wanted to do. Yet, it was Clinton who reignited that fire in Taub with a concession speech in which she implored “all the little girls” to never doubt that they are “deserving of every chance and opportunity in the world to pursue and achieve” their dreams.

Now, after years of development and an Off Broadway run at the Public Theater in 2022 , “Suffs” is scheduled to open on April 18 at the Music Box Theater on Broadway, with Clinton making her debut as a producer. (The team backing the show also includes Malala Yousafzai, a Pakistani activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner.)

“Many of the themes resonate with me personally,” Clinton said in a phone interview, “given my own life and career, including the tension between the so-called establishment and activist voices.”

“I’ve been on both sides of that debate,” she continued. “And the larger lesson that’s in the score — that ‘progress is possible, but not guaranteed,’ and ‘the future demands that we fight for it now’ — I resonate so strongly with that.”

In addition to Clinton and Taub, some of the “Suffs” cast and creative team recalled their first time voting, and shared their thoughts about what suffrage means to them.

Hillary Clinton

Role: Producer

First election year: 1968

Richard Nixon and Hubert Humphrey were on the ballot when Clinton voted for the first time. She had entered college as a Republican, like her father, but her views were shifting .

Listening to Nixon’s nomination acceptance speech at the 1968 Republican National Convention, she recalled recently, “I wasn’t sure that I really agreed” with what the party’s leadership was “saying and doing,” especially after such a turbulent year in which Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy were assassinated and protests over the Vietnam War swept the country. Clinton ultimately voted for Humphrey, the Democratic nominee, mailing in her ballot from Wellesley College to her hometown, Park Ridge, Ill.

As “Suffs” arrives on Broadway during another presidential election year, Clinton said: “There is no guarantee in a democracy. Every generation, every election, every voter has to keep replenishing the values and ideals and energy and purpose of democracy.”

“When you see what the women portrayed in ‘Suffs’ went through to earn the right to vote,” she added, “their agitation, their protests, their marching, their picketing, going to prison, being on hunger strikes, playing the inside and the outside political game to make the case to get President [Woodrow] Wilson finally to endorse it, to get Congress to pass it, to get it ratified in the states — when you think about that process, it should make anybody feel very privileged to be able to vote.”

Shaina Taub

Role : Writer and composer, who is also portraying Alice Paul

First election year : 2008

When Taub first voted, in the presidential election of 2008, she felt adulthood begin. She was a senior at New York University, and said that voting for Barack Obama made her feel as if the world was at her fingertips.

“My right to vote — and really all the rights and freedoms I enjoy as a woman in America, all the independence, all the autonomy that I have — was never inevitable,” she said. “It was not handed to me. It was not expected. It had to be earned. It had to be fought for.”

The morning after Obama won, Taub walked into a class in the theater department, and one of the professors was at the piano playing Nina Simone’s “ I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free ,” an anthem of the civil rights movement. “It’s one of my favorite New York memories,” Taub said. “It felt like the entire city was celebrating.”

Taub added that she wanted “Suffs” to be a “reminder to people that in way harder times, we’ve been able to save and preserve our democracy, and that seeing this story from over a century ago can give us hope and energy to carry forward.”

Mayte Natalio

Role : Choreographer

First election year : 2004

Mayte Natalio’s parents are Dominican immigrants who take their U.S. citizenship and right to vote very seriously. Growing up in Queens, she said, “My mom would come back from work, drop her bag, and be like, ‘We got to go vote!’”

A choreographer who is new to the production, Natalio said she can sometimes be cynical about the state of political affairs, but her mother’s passion is infectious. Trying to balance the two positions, Natalio then summarized her feelings by quoting James Baldwin: “I love America more than any other country in the world and, exactly for this reason, I insist on the right to criticize her perpetually.”

As she prepares for the opening, she said she has been thinking a lot about forward movement, and not just in her notes to the cast. “‘Suffs’ has reminded me that it was worse, and it can get worse if you get lax,” Natalio said. “We can go backward if you’re not keeping the fire.”

Nikki M. James

Role : Ida B. Wells

First election year : 2000

Nikki M. James, who plays the Black investigative journalist Ida B. Wells in “Suffs,” was performing in Canada when she cast an absentee ballot in the 2008 presidential election.

She watched the election results in a bar with fellow cast members as Obama became the first Black man elected president of the United States. “I stood watching Barack and Michelle and their two daughters” in Grant Park in Chicago, “with all these Canadians and a handful of Americans,” James recalled. “And it was really the first time I felt my Americanness and how hard it was for me to not be on my own soil on this big, monumental election.”

She continued: “The way that the negativity and the pain that came with the Trump election has galvanized some people, I think, missing the 2008 election really had a way of being like, ‘Oh, my Americanness is important to me. Voting is important to me. I want to be a part of the history of my nation.’”

Years later, when James was pregnant with her daughter and voted in the 2022 primaries, she put a “future voter” sticker on her belly.

Jenna Bainbridge

Role : Ensemble member

First election year : 2012

Jenna Bainbridge grew up — and cast her first ballot — in Colorado, where voting is now conducted almost exclusively by mail. (The state sends ballots to every registered voter.) So for Bainbridge’s first time voting, she dropped her ballot into a mailbox, and then had a sip of champagne.

She voted in person for the first time two years ago, in Mount Vernon, N.Y. Bainbridge’s polling place is the same school that her nieces attend, five minutes from her house. But when she got to the school, the “accessible voting this way” signs pointed to a staircase — and she’s a wheelchair user. So she had to vote on a table out in the open, where everyone could see. She told multiple people about the issue, but worries it won’t be fixed by November.

“Historically, voting is very difficult to people with disabilities,” Bainbridge said. “People with disabilities are often fully prevented from voting, prevented from being onstage, prevented from getting jobs, prevented from having marriage equality .

“There are so many barriers in the world, and I think about being onstage and having other disabled people see me onstage,” she added, “it opens up the perspectives of what’s possible.”

Grace McLean

Role : President Woodrow Wilson

First election year : 2002

In Costa Mesa, Calif., Grace McLean’s first polling place was inside someone’s garage. Voting felt “small-town communal” and she’s sure she dressed up; she probably wore her church clothes.

The actress has been a part of “Suffs” for about seven years now. Both the musical and the pandemic piqued her interest in voting and advocacy. During the pandemic, she worked with other theater workers on Amplifying Activists Together — a weekly phone-banking event — to call local representatives about issues like raising money for housing and health care, something she had never done before.

For McLean, the show feels like a corrective, one way to give the women’s suffrage movement a bigger platform. “What we get usually is a little bit of a footnote, like, ‘Woodrow Wilson was a president. During his term, women got the right to vote. Yay,’” said McLean, who hams it playing President Wilson in the show.

“History can feel like an inevitability” if we don’t recognize “that it takes so much effort.”

Hannah Cruz

Role : Inez Milholland

First election year : 2010

Hannah Cruz, who plays the labor lawyer Inez Milholland, registered to vote as part of one of her favorite classes, government. Her first election, in 2010, was a local one in Connecticut.

Cruz, who joined “Suffs” in 2021, originally played the Polish American suffragist Ruza Wenclawska, who took part in protests outside the White House seeking Woodrow Wilson’s support for women’s suffrage. She was among the women who were arrested and sent to the Occoquan Workhouse, where they were abused.

“I’ve spoken to and seen so many women who seem so moved by this,” Cruz said of the show. “And so many people who are so shocked by the story, who didn’t know about it. And I think that’s one pillar of what art should do, is teach us about parts of our history and ourselves that we don’t know.”