Nannie Helen Burroughs (1879-1961), was a prominent African-American educator, leader, activist, and suffrage supporter that devoted her life to empowering black women.
In 1896 Nannie Hellen Burroughs helped found The National Association of Colored Women (NACW), the largest black women’s organization in the United States during that time. Then, in 1909, she founded a school for girls and women that bucked the status quo by teaching girls more then just domestic skills.
The women’s suffrage movement in the United States had many heroines who bravely fought for the rights of women. But African-American suffragists are hardly mentioned in our history books. Nannie Hellen Burroughs supported women’s suffrage and saw the vote for black women as essential for their freedom from racial and gender discrimination. She was outspoken about African-American interests and wrote many articles for leading African-American newspapers and magazines. She used these articles as a platform to attack injustices endured by African Americans and encourage readers to take action to change the system.
Nannie Helen Burroughs was an educator, activist, and advocate for racial pride that bravely pushed social reform forward in the United States. We honor her for her sacrifices, tireless commitment, and unwavering vision.
Happy International Women’s Day 2020! We salute all the revolutionary women, seen and unseen, that have moved women’s rights and equality forward.
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