Things We Saw Today: Friendly Reminder That There Were Black Suffragettes, Too

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Hordes of female voters are paying tribute to Susan B. Anthony by posting their “I Voted” stickers on her grave ahead of potentially electing the first female president. But as a Vogue article from 2015 points out, white women weren’t the only suffragettes to exist and accomplish great things. Much like the film starring Carey Mulligan and Meryl Streep, history seems to ignore the incredible black women who faced opposition not only from men, but from white women as well.

Take Ida b. Wells, an activist and journalist who formed the National Association of Colored Women and is credited as a founder of the the NAACP. When she tried to march in a suffragette parade in 1913, organizers asked her to walk in the back. In case you were wondering, this is what I mean when I use the term “white feminism.” Anyway, it’s a nice quick read for those who want an introduction to awesome women like Mary Ann Shadd Cary, who organized the Colored Women’s Progressive Franchise Association, and Sojourner Truth, who once said these incredible words:

“I feel that I have the right to have just as much as a man. There is a great stir about colored men getting their rights, but not a word about the colored women; and if colored men get their rights and colored women not theirs, the colored men will be masters over the women, and it will be just as bad as it was before.”

  • Continuing with the election cycle, the Brits are even getting in on the action. Here’s Benedict Cumberbatch reading a horrifying story to his “son” James Corden about this year’s presidential race. (via YouTube)
  • The only in American in space has voted in this election. Yes, astronaut Shane Kimbrough filed his ballot from the International Space Station proving that there’s really no excuse to get to the polls today. Like President Obama has said, “Don’t boo…vote!” (via Business Insider)
  • In weird, non-election news, Eddie Redmayne auditioned to play Kylo Ren in The Force Awakens. His attempt at making Dark Vader breathing noises must not have been convincing enough to land him the part, but he bounced back nicely with some fantastic beasts. (via Variety)
  • “Nasty Women” memes aside, Donald Trump’s remarks toward Hillary Clinton and other women have had an adverse affect on some individuals’ mental well-being. (Bustle)

That’s it on our end. What did you all see today?

(image via Memphis CVB/Flickr)

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