Taking Part in the March
It seems strange that in this race for equality, not all would be seen as equal. Sadly, women of color were often overlooked by their white counterparts. Black and brown women faced a formidable challenge in the fight to get the vote, but they stood their ground with help from the leadership of several strong women, including one who would not be silenced.
It seems strange that in this race for equality, not all would be seen as equal. Sadly, women of color were often overlooked by their white counterparts. Black and brown women faced a formidable challenge in the fight to get the vote, but they stood their ground with help from the leadership of several strong women, including one who would not be silenced.
“Queen of Our Race”
“Queen of Our Race”
Side by side with the whites she walked,
Side by side with the whites she walked,
Step after step the Southerners balked,
Step after step the Southerners balked,
But Illinois, fond of order and grace,
But Illinois, fond of order and grace,
Stuck to the black Queen of our race.
Stuck to the black Queen of our race.
...
...
Page after page in history you’ll read
Page after page in history you’ll read
Of one who was ready and able to lead,
Of one who was ready and able to lead,
Who set the nation on fire with her pace
Who set the nation on fire with her pace
And the Heroine will be the Queen of our race.
And the Heroine will be the Queen of our race.
Excerpt from From Mental Pearls, a book of original poems by Bettiola H. Fortson (published by Julius F. Taylor in 1915)