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Black Women's Suffrage Movement
In response to the momentum white suffragettes were receiving for the right to vote, black women wanted to join forces but were blatantly excluded. Black women had the disabilities of race, sex, and class against them and white women such as Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton did not see black women as useful in the fight for women's suffrage. Black women were purposefully excluded from organizations like the National American Women's Suffrage Associatio n (NAWSA) because the leaders did not believe it would be appealing to southern white women, which they still needed to garner support from, if black women were included. Important figures like Ida B. Wells, Mary Church Terrell, and Mary McLeod Bethune advanced the issue of black women's suffrage by creating their own movement to make their political concerns a part of the greater movement of equal national suffrage. There are many figures during this movement that are not well known due to the erasure of black women's participation and role in the women's suffrage movement.

Background
Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton were wealthy, educated white women from Northeast region of the United States who were influenced by the Quaker ideals of tolerance and equality. Anthony and Stanton were barred from entering the World Anti-Slavery Convention held in London in 1840 because they were women and became inspired to take the women's role outside of domesticity and into the public sphere. They believed that voting would be a way to elevate women to a public platform so in 1848 the Women's Suffrage Movement began. This movement was by and for white women and Anthony stated "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," she also opposed the 15th Amendment which gave black men voting rights.

Dual War
Black women faced two fronts, or a dual war, to their freedom, their race and gender. Historically, the United States have oppressed these two groups and black women were the last group to gain full voting rights after black men and white women. Many black women fought for women's rights and racial equality and voting was a tool they saw they needed. The women's suffrage movement was and still is portrayed as a movement only white women contributed to which is not true, there are many black men like Fredrick Douglas and women, who will be listed.

Sojourner Truth
Sojourner Truth, 1797-1883, born a slave grew up to be an Abolitionist and Women's Rights Activist. She is credited as one of the first black women suffragist and her famous speech "Ain't I a Woman?" is a testament to black women's struggle in the United States. Her speech called for equal rights for women and black people. She gave many speeches throughout her life calling for the liberation of black men and women and fighting against the oppression they face.

Frances Harper
Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, September 24, 1825 - February 22, 1911, was an African American suffragist, abolitionist, poet, and author from Baltimore, Maryland. She was a part of many progressive movements such as the Women's Christian Temperance Union, Pennsylvania Abolition Society, American Anti-Slavery Society, and is a founding member of the National Association of Colored Women. Born a free woman in the northern states, she helped many slaves escape in the Underground Railroad and 100 years before Rosa Parks, she refused to move from the colored section of a trolley car. In 1866 she gave a speech at the National Women's Rights Convention championing for the equal rights and treatment for all in the United States.

Elizabeth Piper Ensley
Elizabeth Piper Ensley, 1847 - 1919, was an black suffragist, educator, and activist born in the Carribean, moved to Washington, D.C. and later Denver, Colorado. She was involved in civil rights and women's rights activism. While living in Denver, Colorado she became a writer for the Women's Era, a newsletter of the National Association of Colored Women and became joined the Colorado Equal Suffrage Association. On November 7th, 1893, women earned the right to vote in Colorado and it became the second state to allow women to vote. She created the Colorado Women's Republican Club and worked to teach black women on why and how to vote then moved on to create the Association of Colored Women's Club in 1904 as a coalition of other states to create and alliance. Ensley then joined the Colorado Confederation of Women's Club and as one of few black women she broke the color barrier that existed for that club. As a women's rights activist during the United States era of Reconstruction, she is to be credited as a suffragist. Her work helped the advancement and the improvement of all black people in the U.S.

Sarah Massey Overton
Sarah Massey Overton, 1850 - 1914, was a women's rights activist, African American rights activist, and suffragist from Lenox, Massachusetts and moved to San Jose California the the 1880's. Her first movement was for the integration of public schools. California Schools became integrated in 1890 after the Wysinger v. Crookshank California Supreme Court decision, but still upheld the separate but equal doctrine. In 1906 she became a member of the San Jose's Garden City Women's Club. While a part of the club she called for the formation of interracial clubs to create a larger number of women in favor of women's suffrage. Throughout the next few years her activism and lobbying made it possible for women to vote in the statewide 1911 California elections. She also was the vice president of San Jose's Suffrage Amendment League that included black and white women. Overton also served as president of the Victoria Earle Matthews (Mothers) Club that helped protect black girls and women who deal with sexual violence. She worked in many capacities to work for the the advancement of black people and especially black women during her often forgotten life.

Ida B. Wells
Ida B. Wells, July 16, 1862  March 25, 1931, a very well known African American suffragette, abolitionist, and author born in Holly Springs, Mississippi. She led an anti-lynching campaign across the United States in the 1890's which she gained infamy from causing her to receive death threats. She is an important figure in the African American community because she called for the equal treatment of all black people while bravely facing violent racism. She moved to Chicago, Illinois, and there she shifted her focus to women's suffrage continuing her activism. She established the Alpha Suffrage Club in 1913 when she realized the need for African American education about voting so she taught them about the political and electoral systems of the U.S. In March of 1913 she and many other black women went to the suffrage parade in Washington. D.C. sponsored by the National American Women's Suffrage Association. She and her group of black women were told to march at the back of the crowd as a clear sign that they were not to be a part of the public face of the suffrage movement so they do not upset the southerners. Wells argued "Either I go with you or not at all. I am not taking this stand because I personally wish for recognition. I am doing it for the future benefit of my whole race." She left at first but from the request of her fellow black women she rejoined the Illinois delegation of the parade. Due to her work women over 21 were given partial suffrage after the passing of the Presidential and Municipal Bills in Illinois in 1913.

Naomi Anderson
Naomi Anderson, 1863 - ?, contributed to the women's suffrage movement and gave a fiery speech at the inaugural Women's Rights Convention in Chicago in 1869. It was controversial because of her race and gender in a white space. She lived in San Francisco in 1890 and lobbied in favor of women's suffrage in front of the state legislator. There is not an abundance of information about this brave woman but she should be duly credited for contributing to the cause of women's suffrage.

The 19th Amendment
The 19th Amendment barred the denial of United States citizens to vote on the basis of sex. This gave the women the right to vote nationally across the United States.