To many people, the fight for women’s suffrage is synonymous with the fight for women’s rights. It is often forgotten, however, that the women’s suffrage movement was also a fight for racial equality. Many of the white women who led the suffrage movement were outspoken supporters of racial equality who worked alongside Black women to fight for women’s suffrage. Today, we are still learning the stories of Black women in the suffrage movement.
The fight for women’s rights has been one of the defining social movements of the past century. The story of the women’s suffrage movement, which culminated in the passage of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, has been told and retold over the years. But the story has typically focused on the experiences of white women in the movement, leaving untold the experiences of Black women. This is a significant omission, given the vital role that Black women played in the suffrage movement.
When most people think of the women’s suffrage movement, they think of Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and other white women who led the fight for women’s voting rights. But Black women played a significant role in the fight for women’s rights, too. In fact, some of the most important strategizing that led to the passage of the 19th Amendment—which gave women the right to vote—was done by Black women. The untold stories of the Black women in the suffrage movement are important because they help us better understand the history of the women’s rights movement and because they can inspire others, especially young women of color, to get involved in the fight for women’
Hi Melissa,
Thank you for sharing, I really enjoyed reading your response. I agree with you on the idea that the fight for women’s rights has been one of the most defining social movements of the past century. Black women definitely played a significant role throughout the waves of feminism especially the first wave as they wanted fight for not only women’s rights as a whole but they wanted to make sure to include women of color. I think this fact is not talked about enough and despite their hard work and efforts, somehow, women of color were still excluded from the movement and overall conversation.
I agree, Melissa. You make a very good point unfortunately as we have seen with history only what they want to be pushed to the forefront will be. The information is there but we definitely have to go looking for it to get it in depth !!
Hi Melissa, I appreciate your point in that women’s suffrage also included racial equality. I feel like that is a really important aspect of understanding it. It’s incredibly important for us to focus on those voices and stories that were lost.
Hello Melissa, I appreciate how you spoke on the role of Black Women in the woman’s suffrage movement. I totally agree with you, a better understanding of the history can encourage young women from different backgrounds to participate in multiple causes