The Maryland Black Women’s History Collaborative is a passionate group of individuals and organizations igniting the narrative around Black women throughout history and in current society. We are planning a yearlong commemoration of women’s suffrage. Please join us in the celebration of our right to vote by participating in our Voting Rights Celebration.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the ratification of the 15thAmendment which granted African American men the right to vote and the 100thanniversary of the 19th Amendment which granted all women the right to vote.
On May 17, 2020, Baltimore will be the site of a Voting Rights Celebration to commemorate the importance of the passage of both suffrage amendments with a joint parade and women’s suffrage march. It will feature a reenactment, in full costume, of an African American male parade held in Baltimore in 1870 to celebrate the passage of the 15thAmendment along with a women’s suffrage march to celebrate the passage of the 19th Amendment.
Baltimore’s African American suffragists, despite tremendous odds, played a significant role in the fight for the vote. Women will march to demonstrate our appreciation for their sacrifices and determination and to honor the activism of all suffragists who labored to secure the right to vote for all women.
We are soliciting women’s and female youth groups, organizations and individuals to participate in the suffrage march. Due to the importance of the upcoming 2020 elections, we must all work together to honor the legacy of our suffragists and to continue the unfinished business of creating a more equal and just society. Please join us.
Please fill out the attached Application for Marching Groups, Units and Individuals Form and return the signed form to email@example.com by April 30, 2020. For additional information on the Voting Rights Celebration visit the website at www.votingrightscelebration.com . For information about the suffrage march, select the Women tab on the website.
Thank you in advance for helping us educate our city about the past and to encourage our youth to get involved in our future. Please contact us if you have any questions.
Maryland Black Women’s History Collaborative
1. All participants are required to wear white.
2. Organizations may display an item on their person that identifies their group such as a sash, pin, hat, etc.
3. Organizations should have a banner identifying their group and may also have signs throughout their area that identify their group along with the purpose of the march—voting rights and/or support of the suffragist movement. Individual marchers may also carry appropriate signs. The only subjects of this march are voting rights and the suffragist movement. There should be no other causes identified and no political statements.
4. Approved slogans or phrases for your signs are below:
While the 1870 Re-enactment begins at 3:00, our entrance into the parade will be later. Specific details about staging and times of arrival will be provided to participants later.
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