Existing comment:
Suffrage Won, But Damage Done
The words and calls for exclusion had consequences. African American women in particular felt betrayed and vulnerable. After 1920, white former suffragists' refusal to assist African American women being denied the vote bred distrust that still lingers.
Were racist tactics reflections of the personal beliefs of leading white suffragists? Or did they justify these strategies as a means of gaining support to enfranchise a majority, but not all, of American women? These questions do not matter in the end. The arguments and actions they embraced are remembered alongside the victory they won. The memories of the suffrage movement can be both inspirational and disappointing as battles over diversity continue to mark the struggles for women's rights. |