Women's suffrage in Indiana: the myths

<p dir="ltr">Amid the celebrations of the <strong>100th anniversary of women's voting rights</strong> this month, it's important to acknowledge the arduous, decades-long struggles that were involved in reaching that historic milestone. </p> <p dir="ltr">It's also important to dispute myths about the women's suffrage movement that have persisted ever since the <strong><a href= "https://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=false&doc=63">19th Amendment</a></strong> became official on Aug. 26, 1920. </p> <p dir="ltr"><img src= "http://hoosierhistorylive.org/images/Anita-Morgan-2020.JPG" alt= "Anita Morgan" width="206" height="307" align="right" />Hoosier History Live will challenge several of the myths during the next show in our periodic series about the suffrage movement in Indiana. <strong>Anita Morgan</strong>, author of the recently released book, <strong><em><a href= "https://shop.indianahistory.org/Products/WeMustBeFearlessTheWomanSuffrageMovementinIndiana.aspx?skuid=1015669">We Must Be Fearless: The Woman Suffrage Movement in Indiana</a></em></strong> (Indiana Historical Society Press) will be Nelson's guest to discuss the misconceptions that have endured. Anita, a native Hoosier, is a senior lecturer in history at <strong><a href= "https://www.iupui.edu/">IUPUI</a></strong>.</p> <p dir="ltr">Among the myths that she plans to challenge: the misconception that the suffrage movement in the Hoosier state primarily consisted of, as she puts it, "white, Protestant, middle-class women." Although African-American and Jewish women may have been excluded in other states, Anita's book describes their activist roles in Indiana from the beginnings of women's suffrage in the 19th century.</p> <p dir="ltr">Legendary entrepreneur <strong><a href= "https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/madam-cj-walker">Madam C.J. Walker</a></strong> hosted a meeting of an African-American suffrage group at her home in <strong>Indianapolis</strong>, with public school teachers taking leadership roles. One of the teachers