33rd State to Ratify | Oklahoma | Denise Duong, Artist
Her Flag Artist, Denise Duong
My contribution to Her Flag is from Oklahoma.
In 1918, Oklahoma voted on a state constitutional amendment for women's suffrage. It passed this amendment allowing women to vote in state elections. Then on February 28th, 1920, Oklahoma became the 33rd state to pass the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution.
On the edges of the Oklahoma stripe we start with women being bound with their eyes covered, their hands tied and their mouths bound. This represents the suppression of women’s rights. Gradually the binds are falling off strengthening women’s voice and their rights. Then I have included some of the women that helped to accomplish women’s right to vote. On the left there’s
Dr. Anna Howard Shaw, NAWSA (National American Woman Suffrage Association). She spent weeks working in Oklahoma working with delegates from Oklahoma and Indian territories.
Susan B Anthony is next to her. She stated "No stone should be left unturned to secure suffrage for the women while Oklahoma is yet a Territory, for if it comes into the Union without this in its constitution it will take a long time and a great deal of hard work to convert over one-half of the men to vote for it."
Laura A Gregg Cannon, NAWSA organizer, spent quite a bit of time in Oklahoma Territory to promote universal suffrage. She went on a speaking tour of the larger towns in Oklahoma Territory and organized suffrage clubs in 12 different communities.
Carrie Chapman Catt, League of Women Voters and NAWSA, and International Woman Suffrage Alliance. Personal canvasing, published appeals aided suffragists in Oklahoma despite a ban on public meetings due to an influenza epidemic.
We celebrate the right to vote. With that right comes freedom of speech, of choice. With that right, our voices can be heard louder. May we protect these rights for women and appreciate the process and the people that got us here. Its an unfortunate situation that men and women are not treated equal and the fight had to exist at all. The future is Red. The future is pink.