“As we witness their labor and listen to the rising voices of women, we see resolute strength, vigilance, outrage, art, and agency.”

On the occasion of this special issue focused on women—thanks to our whip-smart guest editor, historian Jessica Wilkerson—I am grateful for the virtual women’s community I access online in these continued months of lockdown, but I miss the physical presence of the important women in my life. (Roper, the senior female Labrador retriever member of our household, just nudged me with her nose from where she lies under my desk as I write. I stand corrected.)