This summer women in the United States celebrate with pride the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, which gave women the right to vote when fully ratified on August 26, 1920. This was a hard-fought battle that had its earliest beginnings at the “Women’s Rights” Convention in Seneca Falls, NY, in 1848.
There were failures along the way. The Supreme Court
in 1872 declared in a ruling about the 14th amendment that “all
people” did not include women. One of the saddest realities of this movement
was the fact that the White women often sidelined Black women for fear that
Southern voters would not support their suffrage campaign.
The “National American Women’s Suffrage Association”
in 1890 refused to include Black women in their ranks. Later, in a 1913
suffrage rally in Washington, DC, the White women insisted that the Black women
march at the end of the parade. Racism
was a consistent struggle alongside the intersectionality of sexism, even
though the early movements for slavery’s abolition and women’s suffrage
struggled hand and hand on many levels. It was a complicated time, much like
today.
Even after the passage of the 19th
Amendment, many Black women found it difficult to cast a ballot due to literacy
requirements and poll taxes. It wasn’t
until the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that Black women had the best opportunity
to vote in this country. It is important
to know our true history and to actively oppose current voter suppression
attacks in this generation.
Jesus was the ultimate “universal suffragist,” long before Europe’s Enlightenment era. In the truest sense of the word “suffrage,” Jesus supported and uplifted women of all stripes: Samaritan women, Syrophoenician women, women of questionable character, homemakers, his own mother, little girls, and ceremonial unclean women. He even gifted them with the highest honor of all: to be the first to tell the Good News of his resurrection.
Jesus saw all people as equals, including women, and
he gave them a voice in public, engaged them in theological conversation, and
allowed them to sit with the men as he taught. He healed women, forgave them,
loved them and saw them as worthy of respect.
The world, and sadly the church, continues to deny
support for women. “Don’t send us a woman pastor!” is something I still sadly
hear each year when making appointments. The majority of our largest churches
are served by men. Overall, women earn less salary than men in our
denomination.
However, there are improvements coming little by
little as time passes. I can see in my 40 years of ministry how attitudes,
acceptance and support continue to improve.
I would say that is the movement of the Holy Spirit. The influence of
Jesus’ teachings in his words and deeds continues to liberate women in our
church, our country and our world. We
still have a long way to go as disciples seeking “the transformation of the
world.”
As Christians we can be a part of the support system
that raises up women to equality, self-determination and leadership. The same
quest awaits us in regard to other groups and communities that face
discrimination—such as people of color, people with disabilities, people living
in poverty, and the LGBTQUIA community. Equality and equity for everyone is the
only way that any of us can have true freedom and wholeness. Where can you show
support and be a “universal suffragist”?
The other meaning of the Latin word “suffragium” is
“to pray.” We receive support for the
work of justice and equality through the power of prayer. As we celebrate the
milestone of women’s suffrage, let us pray for a day when all will have the
freedom to vote and to be recipients of equality and support.
Also see: 6 Methodist women who fought for the vote
References:
Washington Post, August 5, 2020
ThoughtCo.com – October 2, 2019
AARP – February 28, 2020
“Black Women and the Suffrage Movement”
Wesleyan.edu
“One of Divided Sisters: Bridging the
Gap Between Black and White Women” by
Midge Wilson and Kathy Russell, Anchor Press, 1996
