Student Videos

---

 

Student Photos & Stories

---

As a woman, not only do we have the right to speak our minds but I think we all have a responsibility to let our voices be heard. For such a long time, women were often shutdown by men whenever we spoke on the issues that we believed in. We would often be seen as aggressive or face backlash when we spoke on issues that all of us in this society go through no matter of what color, gender, or social class you’re in. To this day, I still cannot figure out why so many men were against women being vocal and making their own decisions. Even now, women, especially women of color, still face many adversities for simply being a woman. Being vocal can be scary. It truly takes courage to speak out. Everyone may not agree with what you have to say and some people will straight up disrespect your opinion, but we cannot allow that to stop us from speaking our truth. At the end of the day, we all live in this world with different backgrounds, we all have our own stories to tell, and everyone has their own opinions, but in order for our society to move forward, we must find common ground with one another. That’s why it is imperative for everyone to have the right for their voice to be heard. We are all in this together.

Dasia Chavis, Alumna of STLCC-FV Photography Program

---

 

Why is it important for women to have a voice? Women are people, humans, citizens of this country. That answer should be enough for anyone .especially being a woman of color is important for every individual woman to have a voice. Especially since people think people of color all think the same… Women of color aren’t group thinkers contrary to popular belief. No one speaks for me better than me.

"Tammie" photographed by Mark Roman

---

 

“The best protection a woman can have…is courage." Elizabeth Cady Stanton When I think about this year’s theme, Valiant Women of the Vote: Refusing to be Silenced, I am reminded of the courage, determination and the sacrifices of the many phenomenal women who lead and participated in the fight for women to not only have the right to vote but to be treated equally. Thousands of women united, forming large “women only” organizations to join the suffrage movement to fight for a woman’s right to vote. They held massive marches and parades, many times being attacked, beaten and arrested. Regardless of the abuse and attitudes of the white men in power, the women refused to give up. Women were denied the right to vote because men, and some women, believed that women needed to be at home raising a family. Men believed that extending voting rights to women would cause the disintegration of the family. Men also believed that women were too emotional, and that they were unequal mentally. In other words, they believed that women were not smart enough.

Some believed that men in power felt threatened if women became their equals. However, the brave women of the suffrage movement remained focused and eventually witnessed the passage of the 19th Amendment.

The struggle and sacrifices made by our ancestors, Sojourner Truth, Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Alice Paul, and thousands more, is why we have an obligation to vote. Women would never have been given the right to vote if they had not fought for it. It is important that women’s voices are heard and that women have the freedom to speak up regarding issues that impact them. Women today should be forever indebted to the brave women who fought the hard fight for our voices to be heard.

“I know nothing of man’s rights, or woman’s rights; human rights are all that I recognize.” - Sarah Moore Grimke

Interview with Hazel Erby by Eve Hightower

---

 

Maya Angelou: "I don't sit in the dark, and curse the dark...I light a match" I'm a proud witness to the changes within our society because of our continued voices as women voters. Hopefully, I have been able to lead by example, as the head of my household, and as a leader in my community. I'm excited to be able to contribute my voice by being an active voter, it’s a privilege to vote and to show other black girls and women that their voice matters.

My upbringing was from the classic school of thought for a southern black female, where women had little if any voice, with no real need education or capacity for learning outside of taking care of the family and house. I born the only girl, middle child of 5, in a 2- parent household in the South in 1944. My father was very strict with me, I recall having had to sneak with a light under the covers at night to read and learn my studies. This environment taught me perseverance and determination. A mindset, which I still utilize endlessly to have my voice be recognized.

As a youth and young adult, I didn't initially have any concept of the importance of women's suffrage. I came to realize later in life how important women’s right to vote truly is to all women. And how during my lifetime, utilizing my right to vote and having a voice, positively affected my life as a black woman, the head of my family, a mother, a nurse, a property owner and landlord, a traveler, and as a leader in my community and church. I was once married, and as I raised my 2 daughters following my divorce, I returned to school and earned a nursing degree. We endured as a family and I soon became an operating room nurse (retired) working at the world-renown Barnes hospital in St. Louis, Missouri.

Later, in life, I applied to become a member of the army and was denied because of ageism. Here I utilized my voice and wrote to the Pentagon with my issue. I'm pleased to say I became an army nurse with rank of captain (retired). During my military career, I was a noted contributor for changes to the betterment of service of operations and for improving the quality of life for our service women and men. My wishes for future generations are that women’s right to vote never be taken away, and that they realize it no matter their age how important it is for all women. And that my light never be extinguished but be continually renewed and passed on by those with like mindsets, open hearts, and strong willing spirits.

Interview with my Mother Carrie Strong by Eve Hightower

---

 

Women being able to vote in the United States took some time to become a right. Many of our ancestors fought for their lives for women to have this right. Truthfully, women should have already been able to vote. It is still unbelievable that of all people, MEN were the ones voting for all rights. Women now have a voice, have more freedoms, are important and matter to the political system, but it seems that the protesting they went through to get their right to vote seems like it happening today when it comes to African Americans and police brutality leading one to be assaulted or one going to jail.

Women having this right has made them stronger and important to the world. Having this right is important because now all voices are heard. No one is left out and all have a right to vote. It is also important to vote because every vote count and our ancestors did not fight for us not to vote. Having the freedom to vote is also particularly important. Women back then did not have this freedom and had to watch men vote for rights that would make women the way they wanted them, like today when it comes to abortion rights in many states.

Although, the protest for women to get their right along with the assault from police and being put in jail is similar to today’s police brutality when it comes to African Americans. When women were protesting to get their rights to vote, they were assaulted by police and some were sent to jail. Like today, African Americans protest almost every day for a crime done by law enforcement committed on another African American. Even though neither one of those women or African American were doing nothing wrong, police felt the need to assault them or put them in jail. This just goes to shows no matter the situation, it still does not feel like we are all equal and have equal rights.

Christine Braselman

---

 

This is my great grandmother, Rosie Smith. She was such a beautiful soul. She was the one that taught me to love myself, how to carry myself as a lady when it came to me being plus size, and so much more. She was the backbone of our family. We miss here dearly, and I wish she was still here so we could still have our daily talks. Rosie was also a firm believer in dream chasing and exercising her rights! She always voted when it came time because she always said she had a voice to be heard, which she was absolutely right!

Christine Braselman

---

 

When it comes to politics, I could always count on my Mom to give me her opinions. As I came onto this question, my Mom sat back in her chair and thought about it. A world where women couldn’t vote, we would have no voice at all? We would be voiceless and ignored? A simple sentence came from her, and I couldn’t help but to agree with her. This world would be much different. She also brought up how it’s a privilege to vote, some women don’t have any rights to do so. Mom also brought up the fact that Grandma would be eleven when women could have the right to vote in 1920.

Sara Fullerton