Page 59 - San Diego Woman interactive pdf

Yes, We Can!

My Love Letter to Every Woman

By Carol Heath

“Oh Mama, you must talk with Father “Yes Father, did you call me?” I said most
about allowing me to go to the march tonight. politely hoping for good news.
It is for the suffragists, the women’s rights “Daughter, Mrs. Davis tells me you wish
movement. All my friends are going, I have to attend some parade.” I have no idea why
been writing those boring articles for the paper Father must call my Mother, Mrs. Davis, he has August 1852
for almost a year. Father promised if I could been married to her for 29 years. Oh Diary, what a time we had, Moth-
write an article of some importance that he “Oh yes Father, it is the Suffragist’s Parade er and me. We went to the parade for the
would publish it in the paper. I can’t think of for women’s rights. Oh, please Father mighten suffragists and it was amazing. Father is still
anything more important than women’s rights I go? I could write a story of this event for the not speaking to Mother as he was most em-
and to be able to vote. Oh Mama, wouldn’t that paper.” I pleaded ever so sweetly. barrassed when he had to bail us out of jail.
just be divine? We could actually make a dif- “Daughter have you gone mad. Allow you The most amazing thing was when the police
ference in the world Mama. We could make a out in the dark - unescorted. It is bad enough surrounded us and asked us to board the
change I know we could. Please Mama, please that you insist on wearing those god-awful police wagon when a police officer recognized
you just must.” short skirts that show your ankles. And what- Mother. He apologized and told us that we
“Daughter you know your Father when ever do you mean write a story about it. About could just go home and forget this unfortunate
he gets his mind set. He does let you write what, a group of scandalous women parading incident. The suggestion seemed to incense
for the paper, and you are the only woman. around in white uniforms holding signs and Mother and she told him she had no intention
Besides even if we get more rights as women singing about their rights, they even think to ever forget this night and she wanted to go
will it really make a difference? Do you really they should vote. That my dear daughter will to jail with all her new friends. We met some
think men are going to allow us to work in never happen, not when I am above ground. lovely ladies, who told us stories about the be-
their jobs and make their money? I think Why women are not smart enough to vote, ginning of the movement all the way until last
not daughter, but I will talk with your father they would not know the first thing of filling a night. We talked to one lady who had been
about your wishes. No promises now it will ballot. I’ve already assigned Matthew Whittak- arrested 10 times and in one of those times she
depend on what kind of day your father has er to write about this affront to mankind.” My was beaten, repeatedly. She spent 2 weeks in
had at work.” Father did not seem to fancy the idea that a jail before someone from the movement found
woman could do something else besides cook, out where she was and then another week in
August 1852 clean and wash. Oh, and have babies. the hospital recuperating from her beatings.
Dear Diary, “Mr. Davis, did I hear you correctly? Another woman named Jane told us the
My father doesn’t understand. I went to Are you sir implying that a woman could not movement first started to abolish slavery, not
college for 4 years to learn to be a journalist become informed about voting.?” My Mother liquor. And the most profound and dedicated
and report on meaningful events, not social rarely questioned my Father, but this night was supporter was a woman named Rachel. She
teas, and garden parties. History is happening different. She seemed angry in a way I had nev- was a widow that lost her husband and 3
all around me. Father would have apoplexy if er seen her before. children in a fire. She was totally invested in
he knew I went to the Convention in Seneca “Now Mrs. Davis, you needn’t trouble the movement and spent 3 years in a dark,
Falls, New York. Oh, Diary it was so wonder- yourself about such things. May I inquire when cold, cell where she was repeatedly beaten,
ful and exciting with signs waving and people my supper will be ready?” My Father seemed raped, and starved; all because she would not
cheering. I knew instantly that this was history oblivious to my Mother’s tone and his dismiss- denounce suffrage. Diary, Mother has suggest-
in the making. One day I will be able to tell my al of her question. ed I do some research on the movement before
daughter how Elizabeth Cady Stanton walked “Mr. Davis, your dinner is still on the I write my article. She said I should find out
on stage one summer night in 1848, to deliver stove. I assume you know how to finish cook- names and dates and pertinent facts about
the most exciting words, “We hold these truths ing it, since it is after all any simple-minded the movement. She assured me if the article
to be self-evident that all men and women are woman’s task. I am going out with my daughter is well written based on facts, Father could
created equal” I knew that night when Miss to watch a group of brave women fight for not deny me. He would not only publish it, he
Stanton added ‘and women’ to the most famous our rights. And Mr. Davis, our daughter will would put it in the Sunday special section. She
line in the Declaration of Independence, that be writing an article for your precious paper, also added that if he needed some persuasion
I was watching history being made. It was the which you will print. Any additional words that she would be available for some arm
beginning of the revolution, the struggle for you may offer on these subjects can be made bending. Gracious Diary, I think Mother has
women’s suffrage. One of these days Diary I from the guest bedroom.” Mother was firm gotten violent since being jailed for disturbing
will prove to Father I can write words worthy and fighting for our rights, hers, and mine. the peace, inciting unlawful behavior, and
of his paper; I think he loves that paper more I had never been prouder of my wonderful, refusing a police order. We are nothing but
than he loves Mother and me. I must go, Father brave, beautiful, Mother. My heart swelled in common criminals.
is calling me, maybe he wants to tell me I can my chest and I loved her more in that moment
go to the parade. than I ever had before. 59