I actually teared up when I saw this banner in Ridgefield's 300th anniversary parade this year. The LWV held onto a ca.-1915 banner carried by suffragists in town and brought it out for the occasion.The women who made the banner (obviously) didn't have the right to vote. Neither did these, to name just a few: Sojourner Truth, Carrie Chapman Catt, Lucy Stone, Susan B. Anthony, Ida B. Wells-Barnett, Lucretia Mott, Rose Schneiderman, and Mary Church Terrell.
Not enough? Start reading the letters, articles, and oral histories from Freedom Riders collected at Breach of Peace and remember that for many people, seeing an amendment added to the Constitution wasn't enough.
People with political power have, for hundreds of years, tried to avoid sharing that power. Now that we have it - something other people have fought to bring about - let's make it count for something.
Pay a visit to your polling place on Tuesday, and think about what it took to get you there.
Chasing Ray has a roundup of Blog the Vote posts - thanks for organizing, Colleen and Lee!
1 comment:
That banner is one awesome piece of history. I love that you listed so many of the women involved with the suffragist movement. You might try watching Iron Jawed Angels - it chronicles Alice Paul and Lucy Burns.
I am new to book blogging and saw your blog over at Mother Reader so I'd thought I drop you a note.
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