100 Years of Politics, Persisting, and Patriarchy

A century later, white women better make this one count.

Illustration by Cathy Libnic

“If you don’t vote, you don’t exist.” — Gloria Steinem

Time is ticking.

American freedoms have yet to be universal. As benefactors of the patriarchy, white women have contributed to the persistence of white supremacy. We have aided in the oppression of others for several hundred years. This country was not created in our image; white women worshipped it anyway.

Discriminatory practices persist like the layer of mycelium over our planet, touching everything. Antiquated racist and sexist policies stand. If the patriarchy is the microbial layer, racism is the earth’s core.

100 years ago, Black women suffragists fought for us all to exist. Let that sink in. A century ago, only years after slavery ended, Black women chose to help white women win our freedom. They did so despite white women’s persistent mistreatment.

100 years ago, Black women suffragists fought for us all to exist.

In 1920, after taking care of our homes and families, they marched with us. Black suffragists taught white women movement-building tricks. The…