Black Women and the 19th Amendment

“The government which had made the Negro a citizen found itself unable to protect him. It gave him the right to vote, but denied him the protection which should have maintained that right.” – Ida B. Wells

In case anyone is wondering why Black people go so hard for justice, for equality, for fairness, the simple answer is that they have had no choice over the years. Every gain seems to have come with more mountains to climb.

Case in point: the Women’s Suffrage movement. Black women joined their white counterparts in the marches, protests and meetings that ultimately led to the passage of the 19^th Amendment in 1920. However, the leaders of the movement were not very empathetic about securing a victory for everyone.

Noted white suffragist Susan B. Anthony, in an effort to appeal to white supremacists, went as far to say, “I will cut off this right arm of mine before I will ever work or demand the ballot for the Negro and not the woman.”

Although the ultimate mission was accomplished in theory, black women (and men) would not fully enjoy the right to vote until 1965 when the Voting Rights Act was passed. From all appearances, with the reports of voter suppression and interference with elections, it appears that the fight to protect these cherished rights continues.

We’ve come a long way, but have so much farther to go.

-Sojourner Justice