{"id":230,"date":"2025-05-14T05:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-05-14T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/coloredconventions.org\/black-political-practices\/?page_id=230"},"modified":"2026-07-23T18:04:18","modified_gmt":"2026-07-23T18:04:18","slug":"womens-roles","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/coloredconventions.org\/black-political-practices\/womens-roles\/","title":{"rendered":"Women&#8217;s Roles"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-676bb0ec wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"721\" height=\"171\" src=\"https:\/\/coloredconventions.org\/black-political-practices\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2018\/04\/We-Call-Upon-the-Women-excerpt-from-1840-Albany-Convention.png\" alt=\"minutes of 1840 Albany convention\" class=\"wp-image-1770\" srcset=\"https:\/\/coloredconventions.org\/black-political-practices\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2018\/04\/We-Call-Upon-the-Women-excerpt-from-1840-Albany-Convention.png 721w, https:\/\/coloredconventions.org\/black-political-practices\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2018\/04\/We-Call-Upon-the-Women-excerpt-from-1840-Albany-Convention-300x71.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 721px) 100vw, 721px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cWe call for the exertion of the entire people. 1840 Convention at Albany,\u201d The minutes of the 1840 Convention at Albany reveals how women played an integral role in the work of the Conventions. Here, the whole community&#8211;including women&#8211;is called to organize for full voting rights.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While a lot of attention is given to convention speakers and delegates\u2013who were overwhelmingly male\u2013women also played integral roles. Though they are named infrequently, women\u2019s influences and presence can be found if we look at the minutes carefully.&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/coloredconventions.org\/exhibits\/show\/the-performance-of-convention-\">Much as the word cloud on this exhibit\u2019s landing page suggests<\/a>, women\u2019s participation in the convention must be read as a shadowy form against the larger, recorded version of the conventions. And, while we can never recover an exact account of many of the important contributions women made to the convention effort, we can certainly gain a better understanding of their presence when we make a concerted effort to look for them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Women&#8217;s Role at the Conventions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Spectators and audience member<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fundraisers<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Contributors to speeches or speakers themselves&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In later conventions, starting in the 1850s, women were also delegates. For a visual representation of women\u2019s presence at Conventions over time, see a chart of \u201cWomen in Conventions\u201d by clicking&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/coloredconventions.org\/women-economic-power\/places-participants-map\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Spectators<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Women\u2019s active roles as spectators and audience members appear in the minutes in a variety of ways. The important 1840 New York State Convention which included famous editors, speakers and organizers like Charles Ray (editor of the&nbsp;<em>Colored American<\/em>) and Henry Highland Garnet also described \u201cnumerous\u201d spectators, \u201cboth of male and female\u201d who remained \u201cin attendance, morning, afternoon, and evening\u201d and who \u201cmanifested no less interest than the delegates themselves.\u201d [1] When speakers rose to deliver a formal address, they sometimes addressed their remarks to the \u201c<em>Ladies<\/em>&nbsp;<em>and<\/em>&nbsp;<em>Gentlemen<\/em>\u201d at the public session. [2] At the 1841 Pennsylvania State Convention, delegates passed a resolution thanking \u201cthe ladies\u201d for their presence throughout the convention. [3]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fundraisers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Black women have a long history of&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/coloredconventions.org\/exhibits\/show\/womens-economic-power\">working both within and outside of the home<\/a>. They used their financial prowess to bolster both the convention movement, as well as, the efforts heralded at conventions. Acting as fundraisers, the women\u2019s supportive efforts are often recorded in the minutes at moments of \u201cofficial thanks.\u201d At the Ohio State Convention in 1856, \u201cRev. Mr. Turban came forward and presented the Convention five dollars on behalf of the ladies of Bethel Church.\u201d In response, the delegates unanimously resolved \u201cthat the thanks of the Convention are. . . hereby tendered to the ladies of Bethel Church, for their liberal donation.\u201d [4] Years earlier, \u201cthe Ladies attending\u201d the Ohio State Convention of 1850 \u201cproposed to defray the expenses of the house for the sitting of the Convention.\u201d The delegates then moved and resolved, \u201cthat the Convention tender their sincere thanks to [the ladies] for their genuine patriotism.\u201d [5]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Speakers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Women gained the convention floor at times as well. Some women, like Jane P. Merritt at the 1849 Columbus Convention of Colored Citizens of Ohio, used their own voices to call for a more active record of their participation in the conventions. [6] At the 1849 Convention, Merritt, with the support of T.J. Merritt, who brought the resolution to the floor initially, stood before the Business Committee with a posse of other women at her back, and threw down the proverbial gauntlet:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Whereas the ladies have been invited to attend the Convention, and have been deprived of voice, which we the ladies deem wrong and shameful. Therefore, Resolved, That we will attend no more after tonight, unless the priviledge is granted.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dramatic actions like Merritt\u2019s illustrate not only the women\u2019s quiet participation as audience members, but that they were politically engaged and active in their own right\u2014and that they activity sought to voice their concerns themselves. Although little other mention of women is recorded in the 1849 convention\u2014the point was made: women had ideas and they were ready for the political realm.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Merritt\u2019s was not the only way for women\u2019s voices to be recorded at the conventions. In 1856, at the Ohio State Convention, a statement from the Ladies Anti-Slavery Society of Delaware was read into the minutes. [4] Sara Stanley saluted the gentlemen of the convention and urged them to \u201cpress on!\u201d with their efforts. In showcasing the oratorical tradition that women also accessed [7], Stanley used classical references to paint the women of her Ladies\u2019 Anti-Slavery Society as supportive mothers, sisters, and daughters, of the male delegates:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>It was a Spartan mother\u2019s farewell ot her son, \u2018Bring home your shield or be brought upon it.\u2019 To you we would say, be true, be courageous, be steadfast in the discharge of your duty. The citadel of Error must yield to the unshrinking phalanx of truth. In our fireside circles, in the seclusion of our closets, we kneel in tearful supplication in your behalf. As Christian wives, mothers and daughters, we invoke the blessing of the King, Eternal and Immortal\u2026 to rest upon you.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:15px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">References<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">[1] \u201cMinutes of the State Convention of Colored Citizens, Held at Albany, on the 18th, 19th, and 20th of Auguest, 1840, For hte Purpose of Considering their Political Condition.,\u201d Albany, NY, ColoredConventions.org, accessed April 12, 2016,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/omeka.coloredconventions.org\/items\/show\/620\">https:\/\/omeka.coloredconventions.org\/items\/show\/620.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">[2] \u201cPROCEEDINGS OF THE STATE CONVENTION OF THE COLORED MEN OF THE STATE OF OHIO, HELD IN THE CITY OF COLUMBUS, JANUARY 21ST, 22D AND 23D, 1857.\u201d Columbus, OH, coloredconventions.org, accessed April 12, 2016,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/omeka.coloredconventions.org\/items\/show\/253\">https:\/\/omeka.coloredconventions.org\/items\/show\/253.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">[3] \u201cPROCEEDINGS OF THE STATE CONVENTION OF THE COLORED FREEMEN OF PENNSYLVANIA, HELD IN PITTSBURGH, ON THE 23D, 24TH AND 25TH OF AUGUST, 1841, FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONSIDERING THEIR CONDITION, AND THE MEANS OF ITS IMPROVEMENT.\u201d Pittsburgh, PA, coloredconventions.org, accessed April 12, 2016,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/omeka.coloredconventions.org\/items\/show\/621\">https:\/\/omeka.coloredconventions.org\/items\/show\/621.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">[4] \u201cPROCEEDINGS OF THE STATE CONVENTION OF COLORED MEN, HELD IN THE CITY OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, JAN. 16TH, 17TH, AND 18TH, 1856.\u201d Columbus, OH, coloredconventions.org, accessed April 12, 2016,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/omeka.coloredconventions.org\/items\/show\/252\">https:\/\/omeka.coloredconventions.org\/items\/show\/252.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">[5] \u201cMINUTES OF THE STATE CONVENTION OF THE COLORED CITIZENS OF OHIO, CONVENED AT COLUMBUS, JANUARY 9TH, 10TH, 11TH AND 12TH, 1850.\u201d Columbus, OH, coloredconventions.org, accessed April 12, 2016,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/omeka.coloredconventions.org\/items\/show\/248\">https:\/\/omeka.coloredconventions.org\/items\/show\/248.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">[6] \u201cMINUTES AND ADDRESS OF THE STATE CONVENTION OF THE COLORED CITIZENS OF OHIO, CONVENED AT COLUMBUS, JANUARY 10TH, 11TH, 12TH, &amp; 13TH, 1849.\u201d Columbus, OH, coloredconventions.org, Accessed April 12, 2016,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/omeka.coloredconventions.org\/items\/show\/247\">https:\/\/omeka.coloredconventions.org\/items\/show\/247.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">[7] Ellen NicKenzie Lawson with Marlene D. Merrill.&nbsp;<em>The Three Sarahs: Documents of Black Antebellum College Women<\/em>&nbsp;(Edwin Mellin Press, 1985), 49-50.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:15px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>While a lot of attention is given to convention speakers and delegates\u2013who were overwhelmingly male\u2013women also played integral roles. Though they are named infrequently, women\u2019s influences and presence can be found if we look at the minutes carefully.&nbsp;Much as the word cloud on this exhibit\u2019s landing page suggests, women\u2019s participation in the convention must be [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":2872,"parent":0,"menu_order":6,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-230","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/coloredconventions.org\/black-political-practices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/230","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/coloredconventions.org\/black-political-practices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/coloredconventions.org\/black-political-practices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coloredconventions.org\/black-political-practices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coloredconventions.org\/black-political-practices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=230"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/coloredconventions.org\/black-political-practices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/230\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3081,"href":"https:\/\/coloredconventions.org\/black-political-practices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/230\/revisions\/3081"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coloredconventions.org\/black-political-practices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2872"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/coloredconventions.org\/black-political-practices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=230"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}