Today marks the 85th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment, the Susan B. Anthony Amendment, which added these words to the Constitution:
"The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation."
Imagine! Up until August 26th, 1920*, it was legal to deny the right to vote to the majority of the population of the US -- women!
It stuns and saddens me to know that this important event in US history will go relatively unmarked by most of the country -- no parades, no school assemblies, no moment of silent commemoration in workplaces.
We've come a long way -- and yet, not far enough. Women are still paid less than men, women are grossly underrepresented in our political process as elected officials and, most disturbing, many people are not even cognizant of the pervasive, ubiquitous gender inequity in the world around us.
But, today is a day to celebrate! Don't let the day go by silently -- find some small way (or some big way!) to mark this historic occasion!
Stay strong!
* Although the amendment was ratified by the requisite 36 states in 1920, the legislatures of Georgia, Louisiana, and North Carolina didn't ratify it until the 1970s, and Mississippi not until 1984.