First Lady Michelle Obama. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) The amazing W.E.B. Du Bois is often celebrated as one of America’s greatest educators, historians, human rights leaders, prolific authors, and galvanizing change agents. What many may not realize is that during the first half of the 20th century he stood among that select group of “enlightened” men who championed the rights of women, and who argued that their full empowerment was crucial to the continuing development of democratic ideals and practices. The degree to which Dr. Bois believed the unfettered role of women in American society was an absolutely essential one can be summed up in part by these words from his pen: “...No state can be strong which excludes from its expressed wisdom, the knowledge possessed by mothers, wives and daughters.” There are numerous reasons to spend time considering Du Bois’ insight on women’s equality at this specific juncture of history in th

                                         (Photographed self-portrait of the artist Jaanika Talts) Consider Jaanika Talts of Dublin, Ireland, one of those contemporary visual artists empowered by an instinct for classic literary style. As she puts it, “I mostly paint when I feel like I need to write a book (and it happens often) but painting my thoughts and stories on the canvas is so much easier for me.” Visitors to Talts’ Facebook timeline can see for themselves that the literary company she keeps is one of cross-culture diversity.  A range of quotes from such powerhouses as African-American authors Maya Angelou and Toni Morrison to Canada’s as well as Sri Lanka’s Michael Ondaatje and famed American diarist Anais Nin (1903-1977) help to introduce and interpret her generously shared art. The same literary sensibility is apparent in her 2013 calendar, Camouflages . In it, she quotes the following from English novelist D.H. Lawrence (1885-1930): “A woman unsatisfied must