Early 20th Century African American Women

Timeline 1900s-1920s 1910second conference of the National Negro Conference forms the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People), with Mary White Ovington as a key organizer holding a variety of offices including as member of the Executive Board and board chair, ; later women leaders included Ella Baker and Myrlie Evers-WilliamsMary White OvingtonMyrlie Evers-Williams Committee on Urban Conditions Among Negroes, Committee for the Improvement of Industrial Conditions Among Negroes in New York, and National League for the Protection of Colored Women merged, forming the National League on Urban Conditions Among Negroes (later just National Urban League) ---(January 4) Charlotte Ray died (first African American woman lawyer in the United States and the first woman admitted to the bar in the District of Columbia)Charlotte Ray 1912 Margaret Washington, newly elected president of the National Association of Colored Women, founded the periodical National Notes 1913 (April 11) federal government officially segregates by race all federal workplaces, including rest rooms and eating facilities 1917 (July 1-3) race riots in East St. Louis killed 40 to 200; 6,000 had to leave their homes th Amendment to the US Constitution became law, but practically this did not give the vote to Southern African American women, who, like African American men, were largely prevented by other legal and extra-legal measures from exercising the vote 1921-Universal African Black Cross Nurses founded, for public education, by the United Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) led by Marcus Garvey -Katy Ferguson Home founded, named for 19th century African American educator 1921 Bessie Coleman became the first African American woman to earn a pilot's license three African American women became the first African American women Ph.D.'s 1922 Lucy Diggs Stowe became Howard University's Dean of Women Anti-lynching bill passes United States House, fails in the United States Senate United Negro Improvement Association appointed Henrietta Vinton Davis as Fourth Assistant President, responding to criticism by women members of gender discrimination 1923 Bessie Smith recorded "Down Hearted Blues, signing a contract with Columbia to make "race records," and helping rescue Columbia from imminent failureBessie Smith (September) Cotton Club opened in Harlem - women entertainers were subjected to the "paper bag" test: only those whose skin color was lighter than a brown paper bag were hired Mary Montgomery Booze became the first African American woman elected to the Republican National Committee Elizabeth Ross Hayes became the first African American woman board member of the YWCA Mary McLeod Bethune served as president of the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs (NACWC)Mary McLeod Bethune 1910second conference of the National Negro Conference forms the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People), with Mary White Ovington as a key organizer holding a variety of offices including as member of the Executive Board and board chair, ; later women leaders included Ella Baker and Myrlie Evers-WilliamsMary White OvingtonMyrlie Evers-Williams Committee on Urban Conditions Among Negroes, Committee for the Improvement of Industrial Conditions Among Negroes in New York, and National League for the Protection of Colored Women merged, forming the National League on Urban Conditions Among Negroes (later just National Urban League) ---(January 4) Charlotte Ray died (first African American woman lawyer in the United States and the first woman admitted to the bar in the District of Columbia)Charlotte Ray 1912 Margaret Washington, newly elected president of the National Association of Colored Women, founded the periodical National Notes 1913 (April 11) federal government officially segregates by race all federal workplaces, including rest rooms and eating facilities 1917 (July 1-3) race riots in East St. Louis killed 40 to 200; 6,000 had to leave their homes th Amendment to the US Constitution became law, but practically this did not give the vote to Southern African American women, who, like African American men, were largely prevented by other legal and extra-legal measures from exercising the vote 1921-Universal African Black Cross Nurses founded, for public education, by the United Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) led by Marcus Garvey -Katy Ferguson Home founded, named for 19th century African American educator 1921 Bessie Coleman became the first African American woman to earn a pilot's license three African American women became the first African American women Ph.D.'s 1922 Lucy Diggs Stowe became Howard University's Dean of Women Anti-lynching bill passes United States House, fails in the United States Senate United Negro Improvement Association appointed Henrietta Vinton Davis as Fourth Assistant President, responding to criticism by women members of gender discrimination 1923 Bessie Smith recorded "Down Hearted Blues, signing a contract with Columbia to make "race records," and helping rescue Columbia from imminent failureBessie Smith (September) Cotton Club opened in Harlem - women entertainers were subjected to the "paper bag" test: only those whose skin color was lighter than a brown paper bag were hired Mary Montgomery Booze became the first African American woman elected to the Republican National Committee Elizabeth Ross Hayes became the first African American woman board member of the YWCA Mary McLeod Bethune served as president of the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs (NACWC)Mary McLeod Bethune

Timeline 1930’s-1940 F1930 F black women called for white Southern women to oppose lynching; in response, Jessie Daniel Ames and others founded the Association for the Prevention of Lynching ( ), with Ames as director F1931 F Nine African American "Scottsboro Boys" (Alabama) were accused of raping two white women and convicted quickly. The trial focused national attention on the legal plight of African Americans in the South. F1936 F Mary McLeod Bethune appointed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to the National Youth Administration as Director of Negro Affairs, the first major appointment of an African American woman to a federal positionMary McLeod Bethune F1937 F Zora Neale Hurston published Their Eyes Were Watching GodZora Neale Hurston Fhttp://womenshistory.about.com/od/aframwomentimeline/a/aaw1930_time.htmhttp://womenshistory.about.com/od/aframwomentimeline/a/aaw1930_time.htm F(all informatiom timeline is from above website) F1930 F black women called for white Southern women to oppose lynching; in response, Jessie Daniel Ames and others founded the Association for the Prevention of Lynching ( ), with Ames as director F1931 F Nine African American "Scottsboro Boys" (Alabama) were accused of raping two white women and convicted quickly. The trial focused national attention on the legal plight of African Americans in the South. F1936 F Mary McLeod Bethune appointed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to the National Youth Administration as Director of Negro Affairs, the first major appointment of an African American woman to a federal positionMary McLeod Bethune F1937 F Zora Neale Hurston published Their Eyes Were Watching GodZora Neale Hurston Fhttp://womenshistory.about.com/od/aframwomentimeline/a/aaw1930_time.htmhttp://womenshistory.about.com/od/aframwomentimeline/a/aaw1930_time.htm F(all informatiom timeline is from above website)

Madame Walker Sarah Breedlove McWilliams Walker better known as Madame Walker, together with Marjore Joyner improved the hair care and cosmetics industry early in the 20th century. Madame Walker was born in 1867 in poverty-stricken rural Louisiana. Walker was the daughter of former slaves, orphaned at the age of seven and widowed by 20. After her husband’s death, the young widow migrated to St. Louis, Missouri, seeking a better way of life for herself and her child. She supplemented her income as a wash woman by selling her homemade beauty products door-to-door. Eventually, Walker’s products formed the basis of a thriving national corporation employing at one point over 3,000 people. Her Walker System, which included a broad offering of cosmetics, licensed Walker Agents, and Walker Schools offered meaningful employment and personal growth to thousands of Black women. Madame Walker’s aggressive marketing strategy combined with relentless ambition led her to be labeled as the first known African-American woman to become a self-made millionaire.Madame WalkerMarjore Joyner Sarah Breedlove McWilliams Walker better known as Madame Walker, together with Marjore Joyner improved the hair care and cosmetics industry early in the 20th century. Madame Walker was born in 1867 in poverty-stricken rural Louisiana. Walker was the daughter of former slaves, orphaned at the age of seven and widowed by 20. After her husband’s death, the young widow migrated to St. Louis, Missouri, seeking a better way of life for herself and her child. She supplemented her income as a wash woman by selling her homemade beauty products door-to-door. Eventually, Walker’s products formed the basis of a thriving national corporation employing at one point over 3,000 people. Her Walker System, which included a broad offering of cosmetics, licensed Walker Agents, and Walker Schools offered meaningful employment and personal growth to thousands of Black women. Madame Walker’s aggressive marketing strategy combined with relentless ambition led her to be labeled as the first known African-American woman to become a self-made millionaire.Madame WalkerMarjore Joyner