Post by HousingPlus

Executive Director Rita Zimmer says during this #WomensHistoryMonth “When we think of the women’s suffrage movement, we think of the names we were taught in elementary school—Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton. But this version of events leaves out the suffragists of color and the ugly legacy of racism within the women’s suffrage movement. Throughout the 20th Century non-white suffragists and activists weren’t just fighting for the right to vote. Black, Latina, Native and Asian American women were fighting sexism, language discrimination, economic injustice and other wrongs that come from being both female and people of color.” Mabel Ping-Hua Lee, born in Guangzhou, China, came to the U.S. around 1905--a rare opportunity for a person of Chinese descent due to the Chinese Exclusion Act. Refusing to blend into the background she published articles for Chinese students, gave speeches on a vision of democracy, and in 1912, led the largest Suffrage march the U.S. had seen--10,000 women strong. Despite the ratification of the 19th amendment, she still could not exercise her right to vote, but she remained a champion for all women. Do you have a suffragist or activist you feel have been left out of the legacy of the movement? #strongwomen #womensupportingwomen #visionarywomen