Professor Gunshore
History 222 African American History Since 1877
January 21, 2012
Topic: Women in the Civil Right Movement
Women played a significance role in the Civil Rights Movement
Viewpoint: Women played a major role in the Civil Rights Movement
Evidence:
“?[Women in the Civil Rights Movement] helps break the gender line that restricted women in civil rights history to background and backstage roles, and places them in front, behind, and in the middle of the Southern movement that re-made America. . . . It is an invaluable resource which helps set history straight.” —1
Four of the six women were born in nineteenth century but five of them died in this century: Wells-Barnett in 1931; Terrell in 1954; Bethune in 1955; Roosevelt in 1962; Baker in 1986; Parks is still alive. There are also some common threads that weave their way through each of these women’s lives. They all valued education, not just formal schooling but a love of learning making them truly life long learners. Each woman kept her mind open to new possibilities and each cared deeply about people 2
In 1963, for example, Betty Friedan, founder of the National Organization for Women, published The Feminine Mystique, which exposed the strict and confining gender roles instilled in U.S. society in the 1950s and 1960s -- and, arguably, today 3
Ida Wells-Barnett was one of two black women to sign the call for the formation of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People in 1909.4
In 1890, Mary Church Terrell spoke about black women’s handicaps, that of race and gender, at the National Woman Suffrage Association convention in Washington, D.C.. She acknowledged that white women have a great handicap—that of gender to overcome but black women have a dual handicap—that of gender and race that must be addressed. 5
In 1927, Mary McLeod Bethune was the only black invited to a luncheon meeting of the National Council of Women. The meeting was held at the home of New York’s Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt. When it came time to sit, a perceptible tension filled the room. Who would sit next to a black woman? The Governor’s mother, Sara Roosevelt took Mrs. Bethune by the arm and led her to a seat between herself and her daughter-in-law, Eleanor Roosevelt. This was the start of a long and lasting friendship between Eleanor Roosevelt and Mary McLeod Bethune. 6
1 Jullian Bond Women in the Civil Rights MovementTrailblazers and Torchbearers, 1941–1965 10/1/1993(accessed January 21, 2012) http://www.iupress.indiana.edu/product_info.php?products_id=21507
2 Eleanor Gervasini Willis American Women Who Shaped the Civil Rights Movement Explored Through the Literature of Eloise Greenfield (accessed January 21, 2012) http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1997/3/97.03.10.x.html
3.http://www.tolerance.org/activity/sexism-civil-rights-movement-discussion- (accessed January 21, 2012)
4.Eleanor Gervasini Willis American Women Who Shaped the Civil Rights Movement Explored Through the Literature of Eloise Greenfield (accessed January 21, 2012) http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1997/3/97.03.10.x.html
5.Eleanor Gervasini Willis American Women Who Shaped the Civil Rights Movement Explored Through the Literature of Eloise Greenfield (accessed January 21, 2012) http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1997/3/97.03.10.x.html
6.Eleanor Gervasini Willis American Women Who Shaped the Civil Rights Movement Explored Through the Literature of Eloise Greenfield (accessed January 21, 2012) http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1997/3/97.03.10.x.html
Evidence: In African American studies, women played a very significant role. Without them , many women in generation and race wouldn’t be able to do anything. Those powerful women, spoke their voice and made it known. Women can now vote in United stated of America,, work in any field and any where they please, women are treated equally. Just think about it, How would society be now if those women did not stand up for what they believe in. Where and What women would be doing as of right now.
