Women’s Equality Day

“If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.” Shirley Chisholm

Today marks the 100th anniversary of the date in US history on which the 19th Amendment was passed, and women were officially granted the right to vote. It took 72 years of constant effort and peaceful protest (1848 - 1920) for women to win voting privileges. Millions of women planned, organized, marched, picketed, lectured, wrote, lobbied, petitioned, fundraised, paraded and trail-blazed in countless fields. Many endured ridicule, arrest, beatings and imprisonment. Thanks to their courage, devotion and determination, women today can enter the voting booth and cast their ballot. Although much has been accomplished, much still remains ahead of us to recognize universal freedom, justice and equality. 

Shirley Chisholm stood on the shoulders of the women suffragists. She became the first African American woman elected to the US Congress in 1968. She was a champion of gender and racial equality as well as programs for the poor and ending the Vietnam War. Shirley Chisholm stood as a role model of a no-nonsense, call-it-as-you-see-it, intelligent, confident, see-a-need-and-fill-it person of integrity. Thank you Shirley, for blazing the road towards equality and freedom with style and purpose!  

To celebrate Women”s Equality Day, you could 

Learn more about contributions that other women have made to our history. Here’s a resource of books and films for kids and adults about the women’s suffrage movement: https://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=11827  And here are more books and films about women’s history in general:  

https://www.amightygirl.com/mighty-girl-picks/women-s-history

Sign the petition to have Women’s Equality Day recognized as a federal holiday

https://www.change.org/p/elevate-women-s-equality-day-to-a-federal-holiday

Take the quiz about women winning the right to vote:  http://nationalwomenshistoryalliance.org//wp-content/uploads/eday_brochure_2018b.pdf