This month marks the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th amendment of the United States Constitution.
I will never forget the anticipation that I felt leading up to the first time I would have my say by voting. It was in 1988 and I was chomping at the bit to make my family proud by using my vote for George H.W. Bush. Four years later, I would vote differently than my family – because I had that right!
You have a responsibility to educate yourself on the hard fought battle to hold this power and to extend protections to all fellow Americans, regardless of status. We must share, protect, and exercise this right. It’s not just about the right to vote, but the ability to be heard and have a say.
Here are some ways you can educate yourself about Suffrage and participate.
Visit The Lucy Burns Museum:
If you are someone who prefers to learn through hands-on experience, visit the Lucy Burn’s Museum. The museum is housed at the historic Lorton Workhouse prison. You can visit the cells that held women who were picketing the White House for the right to vote. Life like manikins tell a story of how Lucy and others were treated, including how they were force fed.
Learn About National Women’s Suffrage Month:
Congress designated the month of August 2020 as National Women’s Suffrage Month. The Women’s Vote Centennial site is running programs and events during the entire month, such as a keynote conversation with Secretary Clinton and Elaine Weiss on August 17th. Explore the official commemoration site.
Check Out These Movies:
Whether you’re attending Drive-In Thursdays at the Workhouses in August or streaming at home, you’ll want to watch the HBO film “Iron Jawed Angels”.
A PBS two episode series about a period in our US history that brought the largest expansion of voting rights.
It was a long, hard journey to get to the point where women in the United States realized their right to vote. While many Americans have the right to vote, exercising that right can be an entirely different and difficult story. Nothing is guaranteed. Voter suppression, a form of denial, is alive and very real.
“We women of America tell you that America is not a democracy. Twenty million women are denied the right to vote.” – Alice Paul
The struggle for equality is a constant fight that we must continue to endure. As long as people focus on the exclusive preservation of their ways, it will never truly be achieved. BUT, if we VOTE and continue to work together to protect and further enact this right for all, we can continue to count the number of years we’ve maintained our right to vote.
Christina Chee is a lifestyle and real estate consultant who loves to share insights that help others to live happy and empowered lives in Northern Virginia. Learn more about how you can make your Northern Virginia experience a great adventure — whether you’re new to the region or a life-long resident. Contact her here
