Document 15: Letter from Inez Richardson to Alice Paul, Washington D.C., 11 February 1921, National Woman's Party Papers, 1913-1974, Library of Congress (Microfilm (1979), reel 6).

Document 15: Letter from Inez Richardson to Alice Paul, Washington D.C., 11 February 1921, National Woman's Party Papers, 1913-1974, Library of Congress (Microfilm (1979), reel 6).

Introduction

       Black women continued to pressure Alice Paul and the National Woman's Party to address the question of the disfranchisement of African American women. Addie Hunton, Inez Richardson and representatives from fourteen states met with Alice Paul to make their case. As the delegation's memorial noted, "Five million [Black] women in the United States can not be denied their rights without all women of the United States feeling the effect of that denial. No women are free until all women are free."

 

       Inez Richardson wrote her letter to notify Alice Paul of the group's intention to visit her. The tone of the letter is interesting because it was filled with civilities yet forceful. The author asked Alice Paul for an hour to receive the delegation, not whether the visit was acceptable. Although the African American women received a hearing, it did not go well. Addie Hunton found Paul "thoroughly hostile" to the delegation.[15]

 

              • Washington, D.C., Feb. 11, 1921

Miss Alice Paul
General Chairman
National Woman's Party

My Dear Miss Paul:

       Representatives of the five million colored women in this country will call upon you to-morrow morning, preferably at eleven o'clock, if convenient to you.

 

       They wish to thank you for your splendid work in securing the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United Sates and to call you attention to specific violations of the same in the recent elections.

 

       These women are coming from various sections of the United States at great expense, either to themselves individually or to their clubs. Therefore their time is valuable as we know is yours.

 

       If eleven o'clock is not suitable to you, please name an hour that you can receive this delegation, so that it will not be necessary for them to harass you.

 

            • With great respect,
                      Inez M. Richardson
                      Secretary of the delegation
                      1816 Twelfth St.
                      Lei North 989

 

 

 

 

back to top