Here in the Central Time Zone, it is just past midnight, August 26th. Eighty-seven years ago today -- August 26, 1920 -- the U.S. Constitution was amended for the 19th time. The Susan B. Anthony Amendment 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."
Until August 26th, 1920*, it was legal to deny the right to vote to the majority of the population of the US -- women!
Just 8 days before, on August 18, the Tennessee Legislature, in one of the most divisive votes in TN history, ratified the Amendment by just 2 votes. And what an interesting story that was: Harry T. Burn, young TN Representative from East Tennessee, had been counted as a vote against the amendment by both the suffragists and the antis. He walked into the chamber that day wearing a red rose (the yellow rose was the symbol of the suffragists; antis wore/carried red roses). The vote was too close to call -- but when his name was called, he voted "aye!" The suffragists realized they had won by just 1 vote (legend has it that in his pocket he carried a message from his mother, urging him to do the right thing). Ladies sitting in the gallery shredded their yellow roses and a shower of yellow rose petals showered down on the chamber floor. Can you imagine that scene?!
In a procedural move, Speaker of the House, Seth Walker, changed his "nay" vote to "aye" -- only someone voting on the winning side of a vote could call the issue back to the floor for reconsideration. But it was too late. The vote was rushed to Washington before it could be dragged into court or back up for a vote.
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. In Tennessee, where school is back in session, Tennessee's historic role in suffrage gets small mention.
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 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.
[1:00 AM update -- off to bed. Hope we can keep this diary alive until morning -- would be a shame if the 26th went by without being marked by folks here at DKos.]