Program

National Votes for Women Trail

Subject

People, Site

Location

128 M Street Northwest, Washington, DC, USA

Lat/Long

38.9053115, -77.0127649

Grant Recipient

National Collaborative for Women's History Sites

African American educator and activist, Nannie Helen Burroughs (1879-1961) fought for women’s suffrage and equal rights. Burroughs advocated from her position within the National Baptist Convention. She traveled throughout the United States, speaking on equal rights. An August 1915 issue of the NAACP publication, The Crisis, included the article, “Black Women and Reform” written by Burroughs as part of the publication’s “Votes for Women” symposium. Burroughs wrote the article while serving as Secretary of the Woman’s Auxiliary to the National Baptist Convention. In it, Burroughs asked, “What can the Negro woman do with the ballot?” She answered, “What can she do without it?” She continued, stating, “every reform in which the Negro woman has taken part, during the past fifty years, she has been as aggressive, progressive and dependable as those who inspired the reform or led it” and that “the ballot, wisely used, will bring her the respect and protection that she needs,” referring to the ballot as a “weapon of moral defense.”

In 1896, Burroughs graduated with honors from the M Street High School in Washington, DC. As of 2022, the former M Street High School building at 128 M Street NW housed the Perry School Community Services Center, Inc.