Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Blast from the past: Suffragist cartoons!

We at FMF are always in favor of singing, dancing educational resources. We're currently assembling the schedule for the National Young Feminist Leadership Conference, which will include workshops on running for office and the legislative process, amongst many other topics.

Consequently, I felt compelled to revisit the classic Schoolhouse Rock animated video I'm Just a Bill, which describes the policy process to children. While poking around online, I was delighted to discover Schoolhouse Rock produced feminist videos too! Sufferin' 'til Suffrage provides a manic overview of the American women's suffrage movement, which of course culminates in winning the right to vote in 1920 with passage of the 19th Amendment.



Want to see more feminist cartoons? The Sewall-Belmont House was the historic Capitol Hill base for Alice Paul's National Woman's Party during the original Equal Rights Amendment fight. In addition to ERA exhibits, the house has a terrific collection of Nina Allender political cartoons supporting the struggle for voting rights that preceded the ERA. Allender's powerful images contributed to the push for women's equality, so check 'em out at the Sewall-Belmont House in person or online.

The Sewall-Belmont House has early feminist march banners, Susan B. Anthony's desk, and many more inspiring artifacts from pioneering women's rights advocates. It is chilling to walk the halls of a home steeped in the movement, where bold women plotted legislative strategies to win progress for American women. Your campus activism will write the next chapter of women's history, so join us at the conference in DC this March as we continue agitating for equality!

Correction: The initial post incorrectly cited the Sewall-Belmont House as the headquarters of the women's suffrage movement. It was actually the headquarters of the Equal Rights Amendment effort headed by the National Woman's Party. Thanks to former FMF intern Caroline Sellars for the tip-off!

2 comments:

Caroline said...

Love this! Thanks for posting it, Danielle.

One quick note: the Sewall-Belmont house wasn't purchased by the National Woman's party until 1929 (they were in a house in Lafayette Square near the White House when suffrage was ratified in 1920). When they moved into the Sewall-Belmont house, their main focus was the Equal Rights Amendment. But the SBH museum covers suffrage history, too, and has some amazing artifacts. It's my #1 favorite museum in all of DC.

Ellen said...

Thank you so much for posting this! It is wonderful and just what I needed.