Alison Montgomery Fischer

Episcopal deacon . wife . EDSJ . Navigating & appreciating life with chronic illness & disability . TX➡CA . she/her✌🏻

[Archaeo - Histories @archeohistories]

What if the American frontier wasn't just domain of cowboys, but shaped just as boldly by the grit and determination of cowgirls—especially Black women who defied both gender and racial boundaries? In rough-and-tumble world of the Wild West, some of the toughest and most skilled riders weren’t men at all. Many were Black women, often the daughters of formerly enslaved people, who carved out their place on ranches, cattle drives, and in early rodeo arenas, despite the odds stacked against them.

Black cowgirls played a significant, yet often overlooked, role in the American West. While the image of the cowboy is often associated with white men, African American men and women were also integral to the cattle industry and westward expansion. Many Black women found work as ranch hands, drovers, and even rodeo performers, challenging traditional gender roles and contributing to the cultural landscape of the region. While there may not be as many well-known black cowgirls from the 1800s-1950s (because of racism) as there are famous cowboys, there were certainly notable women who made their mark in the rodeo and Western world during those eras.

One of the most remarkable among them was Mary Fields—better known as “Stagecoach Mary.” A former slave, Mary Fields became a legend for her work as a stagecoach driver in Montana. She was known for her strength, independence, and fearlessness in a profession dominated by men. Armed with a revolver and a fierce spirit, she became the first Black woman to carry U.S. mail by stagecoach, navigating rugged Montana terrain with fearless resolve. But Mary’s story was just one of many. Across the West, Black women laboured alongside men, doing the hard work of ranching, herding, and horse handling with unmatched resilience. They weren’t just helping out—they were holding their own in a world that rarely acknowledged their strength.

Though their contributions are often left out of popular history, these women helped shape the soul of the American West. Their stories stand as powerful reminders that the frontier spirit wasn’t limited by gender or race—it was defined by courage, skill, and determination. It’s time to honour these unsung cowgirls who helped build the legacy of the West, one dusty trail at a time.

Other notable figures :

Henrietta Williams Foster:

A "legendary" cowhand, her name is associated with the skills of a cowgirl. 

Johanna July:

A Black Seminole woman known for her skills in taming horses and raising cattle. 

Rodeo Pioneers:

Black women like Betty Jo Williams, Deborah Akins, Marilyn LeBlanc, and Pam Buck made their mark on the rodeo circuit, breaking barriers and paving the way for others. 

Black cowgirls faced unique challenges, including racism and exclusion from certain spaces, but they persevered and left their mark on the history of the American West. Their stories are a reminder of the diverse and complex nature of the frontier experience.

#archaeohistories

[Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock @SenatorWarnock]

For I know how many are your transgressions, and how great are your sins— you who afflict the righteous, who take a bribe, and push aside the needy in the gate…
I hate, I despise your festivals, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies…
Take away from me the noise of your songs; I will not listen to the melody of your harps.
But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

-Amos 5: 12, 23-24

[@[email protected] @Imani_Barbarin]

Rumi Carter’s “Autism”

[Alison Montgomery Fischer @AliMFischer]

@ThePOTSPostman I’ve woken up during surgeries and always require large doses of anesthesia. Poor wound/ site healing. Allergic reactions to stitches.

[Scott Hadland, MD @DrScottHadland]

My viewpoint from the field of pediatrics in the wake of the election results. As pediatricians, politics & policy touch everything we do. I see the impact firsthand every day:

- The teen with immunodeficiency who listens to politicians demonize vaccines—even though these protections could mean everything to his health and safety

- The young adult who has been raped and needs access to *the full range* of reproductive services

- The teenager battling depression and thoughts of suicide, but who’s on Medicaid—insurance that many private doctors can’t afford to accept because of inadequate reimbursements

- The young person struggling with their gender identity, while lawmakers publicly vilify them, threatening their safety and well-being

These are real people, and they’re the faces behind every choice our politicians make.

So, what do we do when politicians make our worker harder?

**We work together. We do important, hard work in our daily lives.**

For me, this means caring for each patient and family in front of me, putting one foot in front of the other, and fighting for science, evidence, and what’s good and right in this world.

[Alison Montgomery Fischer @AliMFischer]

@HollyStallcup Break a leg, Audrey! You are magnificent! ❤️

[Fereshta Abbasi @FereshtaAbbasi]

The Taliban will punish women who sing in public, or if their voices are heard outside their home.

I stand in solidarity with extraordinary Afghan women who have been protesting and publishing their singing clips since yesterday.
#صدای_من_عورت_نیست

[Matt Nightingale is moving to Threads. @mattnightingale]

It may not be your time to come out. I get it.

But when you're ready, I can tell you this:

There's a lot more room out here. And a lot of people who will stand with you as you stand in the truth of who God created you to be. 🙏🏼❤️🏳️‍🌈

[Bryan H. @X_BryanH]

The Supreme Court has:

-Overturned Roe v. Wade (50+ years of precedent)

-Overturned Chevron (40 years of precedent)

-Overturned affirmative action (60+ years of precedent)

-Allowed cities to criminalize homelessness

And this is all because 1 man became president in 2016.

[Joey Palacios - Texas Public Radio @Joeycules]

A Rio Grande Valley Chef, Ana Liz Pulido, was named best chef in Texas at the James Beard awards in Chicago
⁠
She dedicated the award to her father, Armando, who inspired her to cook and now assists her at her restaurant — Ana Liz Taqueria in Mission — by cooking the meat daily

[Jeannie Di Bon @jdibon]

Invisible illness is present in how someone speaks, breathes, moves. Invisible illness is there in how someone organises their life. The pain of living with invisible illness is visible but people, sadly inc some doctors & health professionals, choose not to look closely enough.

[philip lewis @Phil_Lewis_]

Whoopi Goldberg brought back the “Sister Act 2” choir to perform “Oh Happy Day” for the film’s 30th anniversary on “The View”

[DAZN Boxing @DAZNBoxing]

The remix we didn't know we needed 🇲🇽 🤜🤛 🇺🇸

The USA National Anthem got a twist before our main event

#CaneloMunguia | NOW | Live on DAZN: Click link in bio to buy

[Earl Landix 🇺🇸 @EarlLandix]

Black Americans enjoying their culture at the 2024 Hip Hop Rodeo in Texas.

[Alison Montgomery Fischer @AliMFischer]

@HollyStallcup @Cigna Can we crowdsource via text and figure out how to ensure you have the medication you need until this can be rectified? Your life is worth more than “legality”

[Zach W. Lambert @ZachWLambert]

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13

We see this verse all over the place and comes across pretty innocuous at first, but ripped out of context, it props up an incredibly damaging view of God.

It casts God as some kind of genie who exists to help us get the next promotion, heal us when we’re sick, raise great kids, or whatever else our hearts desire.

But what happens when we don’t get what our heart desires? What happens when we pray and tithe and read the Bible and go to church and believe we can do “all things through Christ” but things still don’t work out the way we want them to?

I have a friend named Javier who grew up in a church with Philippians 4:13 literally painted on the wall in the sanctuary. He never knew his dad, but his mom took him and his little sisters to church every single time the doors were open. She diligently tithed even though her income was meager and she volunteered in the nursery every Sunday morning.

“She’s the most faithful person I have ever known.” Javier once told me. But when Javier was 16, his mom got sick. When she went to the doctor, they found stage 4 cervical cancer and she was given 6 months to live.

The first place they went after the doctor’s office was their church. Javier’s mom wanted the pastor to pray over her. She sat in the church pew right underneath that painting of Philippians 4:13 as the pastor laid hands on her and prayed.

Javier still remembers the pastor’s prayer, “God your word says that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us, so we know that through the power of Christ, this woman is going to beat cancer and experience miraculous healing.”

Javier’s mom passed away 4 months later.

Do you know what this terrible use of Philippians 4:13 did to Javier’s faith?

Absolutely destroyed it.

He walked away from church and faith and anything to do with God.

It wasn’t until Javier talked with a pastor almost two decades later that he was able to deconstruct the harmful way this verse and many others had been used in his life. He was able to see Philippians 4:13 in context and by God’s grace the biblical passage has been transformed from a weapon of harm into a tool of healing in Javier’s life.

Here is the verse in context…

“I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. For I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:10-13

When you read this verse in context, it’s easy to see that Paul is not casting God as some magical genie who grants your every wish. He’s not saying that God will get you a promotion or heal your cancer if you just pray hard enough. He’s not promising a life of blessings if you follow all of God’s rules.

Paul is saying that his faith in Jesus empowers him to endure any circumstance, no matter how difficult. Paul can be content in any situation, even prison, through the encouragement of Christ and his fellow Christians. Jesus gives him strength when he has none left of his own.

The truth of that message is what resonated with Javier all those years later. When he found himself imprisoned by grief after the death of his mom and so angry at the God he thought refused to heal her, this message of hope in the midst of pain was a healing balm for his soul.

This is why I believe so strongly in the power of Jesus working through good Bible interpretations to promote healing and wholeness in our lives. I saw it happen with Javier and I’ve seen it happen with hundreds of others too.

Bad Bible interpretation hurts people, but good Bible interpretation helps people.

[Alison Montgomery Fischer @AliMFischer]

Meet people where they are.

[Jacy, LPC | the TRAUMA queen @ATMwithJacy]

“I’m walking to Tennessee y’all!” I just love this. #DementiaAwareness

[CoorDown @coordown]

If we have positive assumptions about people with Down syndrome, we'll give them more opportunities. And maybe these positive assumptions will become reality. #AssumeThatICan #WDSD24 #WorldDownSyndromeDay #EndTheStereotypes

[Alison Montgomery Fischer @AliMFischer]

@HollyStallcup ❤️ thrilled they had an enjoyable evening. Sending you and your parents continued love and prayers. Well done, Holly ❤️

[Your Fav Disabled Hottie❤️‍🔥 @nilanmorton]

If society included disabled people, we wouldn’t have to search on Google to see if certain places are accessible.

If society included disabled people, many would be able to marry without losing their benefits.

If society included disabled people, the government wouldn’t choose to euthanize a disabled person instead of giving them the resources to survive.