Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, known to most as Miss Major helped to start the trans movement that we know and support today.

Along with powerful women like Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, Major came to prominence during the Stonewall Riots in the late 1960s. As a trans activist for over 40 years, she has been an advocate for oppressed people whether it came to sexuality, race, imprisonment, or homelessness.

What she did for important social movements was immortalized in her biographical film MAJOR!, which received many accolades in 2016.

She stood up for her community and fought hard for it—so hard, that she was in prison herself several times due to altercations with white supremacists and homophobes. But it didn’t keep her from going through with her mission: to uplift the trans community.

James Michael Nichols of Huffington Post described Major and her work best: “Miss Major is a community leader ― an organizer, activist, prison abolitionist, former sex worker, formerly incarcerated person, transgender elder and mother to countless transgender and GNC youth.”

While so many still see her as a key figure and motivational leader, she doesn’t see herself as any different. “Well, I don’t really think of myself as anything super special or better than anybody else. I’m just one of the girls! And I’m trying to make it better for us and, in turn, that will make it better for everybody,” she stated.

One thing we can learn from Miss Major is that humility doesn’t compromise hard work—and to always support the communities you belong to for the greater good.