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The Untold Story of Women of Color in the League of Women Voters

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The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan organization that promotes informed and active participation in government. Founded in 1920, the League has a long history of advocating for women's rights and other progressive causes.

However, the League's history is not without its blemishes. In particular, the League has been criticized for its lack of diversity, both in its leadership and its membership. This article tells the untold story of women of color in the League of Women Voters, from its founding to the present day.

The Untold Story of Women of Color in the League of Women Voters

by Carolyn Jefferson-Jenkins

4.3 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	4779 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
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Print length	:	281 pages

The Early Years

The League of Women Voters was founded in 1920 by Carrie Chapman Catt, a leading suffragist. Catt envisioned the League as an organization that would educate women about their new right to vote and encourage them to participate in government.

From the beginning, the League was open to women of all races and ethnicities. However, the League's early leaders were predominantly white women. This was due in part to the fact that the League was founded at a time when women of color were facing significant barriers to political participation.

Despite these challenges, there were a number of women of color who played important roles in the League's early years. One of the most prominent was Mary McLeod Bethune, a prominent educator and civil rights activist. Bethune was a member of the League's National Board of Directors from 1924 to 1949, and she served as the League's president from 1947 to 1949.

Other notable women of color who were involved in the League's early years include:

Nannie Helen Burroughs, a prominent educator and civil rights activist
Fannie Lou Hamer, a civil rights activist and voting rights advocate
Rosa Parks, a civil rights activist and pioneer in the Montgomery bus boycott

The Civil Rights Movement

The civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s had a profound impact on the League of Women Voters. During this time, the League became increasingly involved in the fight for voting rights and other civil rights causes.

Women of color played a leading role in the League's civil rights work. In 1965, the League helped to organize the Selma to Montgomery marches, which were a major turning point in the voting rights movement. Women of color also played a key role in the League's efforts to pass the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

The civil rights movement also led to a greater awareness of the importance of diversity within the League. In 1968, the League adopted a resolution calling for the organization to become more inclusive of women of color.

Recent Years

In recent years, the League of Women Voters has made significant progress in terms of diversity and inclusion. The League's current president, Virginia Kase Solomons, is the first African American woman to lead the organization.

The League has also made a number of changes to its policies and practices to make it more welcoming to women of color. For example, the League now offers scholarships to women of color who are interested in pursuing leadership roles in the organization.

Despite the progress that has been made, there is still more work to be done to ensure that the League of Women Voters is truly inclusive of women of color. The League must continue to work to diversify its leadership and membership, and it must continue to address the needs of women of color in its advocacy work.

The League of Women Voters has a long and proud history of advocating for women's rights and other progressive causes. However, the League's history is not without its blemishes. The League has been criticized for its lack of diversity, both in its leadership and its membership.

The untold story of women of color in the League of Women Voters is a story of struggle and progress. Women of color have played a vital role in the League's history, and they continue to play a vital role in the League's work today. The League must continue to work to diversify its leadership and membership, and it must continue to address the needs of women of color in its advocacy work.

The Untold Story of Women of Color in the League of Women Voters

by Carolyn Jefferson-Jenkins

4.3 out of 5