Unsung Suffragettes

 Women's Suffrage

Think Globally, Highlight Locally

Celebrate your community's suffragists.

March/April 2020 www.nysut.org

Civil Rights Leaders & Labor Leaders

In 1957 the Little Rock Public School was the center of attention during the Civil Rights movement.  Nine brave souls fought for justice and equality.  The Little Rock Nine  are very well studied and honored.  In class I usually play the video of the United States Army escorting them into school.  But did you know it was also the location for en epic equal pay law suit.  African American teachers in Arkansas were paid significantly unequally.  White teachers in high school were paid $856 annually while black high school teachers were paid $567 annually. White elementary teachers were paid $526 annually while black elementary teachers were paid $331 annually.   Sue Cowan Morris fought for equal pay for African American teachers alongside the NAACP.
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Also check out Harriet Elizabeth Brown  another Labor Leader who pushed for equality for teachers.

A Hero Survivor

In 1942 William Dyess was in the South Pacific when Japan invaded the Philippines.  He crash landed on the coast of Philippines and was captured by the Japanese.  The fight was fierce and deadly.  During the battle 75,000 American and Filipino soldiers surrendered on Bataan.  Dyess was one of them.  He survived the Bataan Death March and witnessed the beatings and murder of captive soldiers.   After reaching a prison camp with no care and supplies he organized a brave escape and spread the news of the atrocities.  He is a hero for the ages.

San Francisco Sit-in

An effective tool for civil disobedience is the sit-in.   It  sends a powerful message and usually sparks legislative change.  The sit in's in Greensboro, North Carolina are well discussed and  analyzed.  The images from the Woolworth's service counter are legendary. The courage and strength of these young men and women are well recorded.   Here is another lesser know sit-in. A group of activists lobbied for the government to pass section 504.  This law protected the right of people with disabilities.  Judith Heumann led the epic sit in of a federal building.  She is a unsung hero that is often overlooked. This sit in for disability rights in San Francisco carried on for 25 days!  Judith Heumann fought intolerance and won.  In the classroom I compare these the two epic sit-ins.

Knitting For Victory

Mary Barclay Brokerick was an unsung hero from WWII.  Americans jumped into action after the attack on Pearl Harbor Dec. 7th 1941. Both the President and the First Lady took the initiative to mobilize our nation.  Here is another unsung hero who served as the Seattle Red Cross knitting chairman for the Puget Sound area.   She organized a fantastic  knitting for victory campaign the Pacific Northwest. It is also important to understand that the idea of Knitting for Victory was not a novel idea.  It was a repeat of the Wool Brigades of World War I.

Delano Grape Hero

The historic Delano Grape strike of 1965 lasted five years.  The efforts and struggles of the Mexican and Filipino farmers are well recorded.  The boycott and strike was led by Cesar Chavez.  During the strike he went on a hunger strike to support his cause. His bravery is well recorded in American history books.  But, did you know that Larry Itliong was the original labor leader to organize the farmers.  When the Mexicans went on strike, Filipinos were used as strikebreakers.  When the Filipinos went on strike, Mexicans were used as strikebreakers.  Itliong was one of the first to recognize this pattern.  (PBS Episode Huelga) The leadership and smarts of Larry Itliong is too often forgotten by history books.

From Slavery to the House of Representatives

Studying the trials of courageous Americans  is very important in the classroom.  George Washington was legendary hero.  George Patton on the battlefields of Europe is fantastic.  The soldiers of World War II storming the beaches of Normandy (La Point du Hoc Men) is unbelievable. Here is another brave soul who knew the consequences of his actions but continued.  Robert Smalls saved his family from the institution of slavery.  I found this unsung hero in a children's book called The Escape of Robert Smalls.

Dust Bowl Survivor/Hero

History often overlooks strong and resilient people who overcome insurmountable obstacles.  Discussing the long term and short term effects of the Dust Bowl is crucial to any unit studying the Great Depression.  I usually compare the economic struggles of the mid western farmers to the struggles of the northern city dwellers.  Here is a great unsung hero is a Dust Bowl Survivor: J.R. Davidson.