Mary Church Terrell

_{National Association of Colored Women headquarters in Washington D.C. Self-Made. Author AgnosticPreachersKid Source.}

Who was she?

Born on September 23, 1863 in Memphis, Tennessee to former slaves, Mary Church Terrell was a part of the rising black middle and upper class. Her father Robert Reed Church, a businessman, was the first African American millionaire in the south. Her mother, Louisa Ayers Church, owned a hair salon. Her parents’ belief in the importance of education allowed her to attend Antioch College Laboratory, and Oberlin College where she received her Bachelor's and Master’s degrees. Like many middle and upper class black individuals, Terrell believed that uplifting African American community education had to be prioritized. She believed that by having black individuals in positions of power in society it would lead to the progress and better treatment of the community as a whole. One quote she is known for is "lifting as we climb"which became the basis of her life work.

_{Transcript of Terrell's address to NAWSA February 18, 1898 courtesy of The Library Of Congress. Source.}

Terrell became more involved in women's rights after being appointed to Washington, D.C’s school board. There she and her husband advocated for women’s suffrage. Terrell focused especially on African-American women. At the meeting of the National American Woman Suffrage Association, led by Susan B. Anthony, she voiced her opinion on having African American women on the Agenda. On February 18, 1898, Terrell addressed the National American Woman Suffrage Association on colored women. She talked about the struggles of women of color, and how they are often overlooked by society. She elaborated on how women of color with “ambitions and aspirations are handicapped” not only because of their sex but mocked because of their race. Terrell made reference to activists such as Frederick Douglass. She spoke of the many actions the National Association of Colored Women, an organization she founded, toke to create educational programs for men, women, and children all over the country Terrell played a key role in the women's suffrage movement by including the voice of African American women just like her, and by advocating education for individuals in society.