Alpha Suffrage Club
The Alpha Suffrage Club is believed to be the first black women's suffrage association in the United States. It began in Chicago, Illinois in 1913 under the initiative of Ida B. Wells-Barnett and her white colleague, Belle Squire.
The Election of Oscar De Priest
On June 10, 1919 black and white suffragists alike saw their goal realized with Illinois becoming the first state to approve the Susan B. Anthony Amendment which granted equal voting rights for both sexes. Following that victory, the efforts of the Alpha shifted towards the campaign to elect the first African-American alderman to Chicago's City Council. Initial canvassing efforts by African-American women in Chicago's Ward 2 were met with resistance, and the club's candidate was not elected. Their efforts were noticed by the Republican Party presence who sent two delegates to the club's regular meetings. The women were encouraged to keep campaigning, with the promise that an African-American candidate would be nominated by the party in a coming election. In 1915, their efforts were rewarded with Ward 2 electing Oscar De Priest, the first African-American alderman.
Mission and Difficulties with
Despite the expansion and support obtained by the Club within one year, African American women still had to endure grave difficulties. First off, the African American men did not want the women to be in the political sphere. In 1914, during the primary elections for alderman of the city, women made posters and encouraged other African Americans to vote. There were a large number of men who followed these women around and criticized them. Furthermore, the unwillingness of white female suffrage activists to incorporate African Americans to their struggle displayed a clear existence of discrimination. Ida B. Wells stood firm in her struggle with the National American Woman Suffrage Association parade on March 3, 1913 in Washington, D.C. Although the president of the Illinois Equal Suffrage Association warned her that her involvement may lead to the termination of the parade, she managed to sneak into the parade. When her presence was noticed, two white women pushed Wells out of her spot. A picture of this occurrence was in the Chicago Daily Tribune shortly thereafter. Nevertheless, these are the kinds of difficulties that African American activists had to endure, and these incidents reiterated the fact that race, gender, and political equality needed to be a joined effort.
Achievements
The club had many achievements, and gained popularity within the African American community within Chicago. By 1916 the club had nearly 200 members; however political support for the group later burgeoned into the thousands. The club also published a newsletter, the Alpha Suffrage Record.[1]
Impact
The Alpha Suffrage Club served not only to secure women's rights within Illinois and the greater United States, but also to spread significant support for, and within, the African-American population.
References
- ^ Hendricks, Wanda (1994). "Alpha Suffrage Club". Black Women in America: An Historical Encyclopedia. Vol. 1. Bloomington: Indiana University Press. p. 25–26. ISBN 0-253-32774-1.