Invisible Women of the Civil Rights Movement

At the forefront of pivotal movements in history like the Civil Rights Movement, Chicano Movement, and the Digital Revolution – media and history books show us men in positions of power. We hear men speaking, we read about important decisions made by men, and we are told, men are the leaders. In this narrative, we do not hear about the communities and other leaders who made these movements possible. Often, these people are women. 

The intentional relegation of women to the background is palpable throughout history and in the stories told about our most important movements. This still happens. At Equity Labs, we take seriously our responsibility to elevate the voices of those in the margins. In this yearlong blog series, we will highlight the women who carried and moved the needle on crucial social justice movements through their organizing and intellect.  

Part one of this blog series will cover accomplishments of just a few of the women who were rendered invisible in the history books but integral throughout the Civil Rights Movement. 

Ella Baker

Ella Baker, often referred to as “The Mother of the Civil Rights Movement” was a powerful grassroots organizer and founder of numerous civil rights organizations. Her activism was influenced early on by her grandparents’ experiences in slavery and growing up in rural North Carolina surrounded by the support of their community and developing her foundational belief that people were stronger together. In her early career, Baker graduated college at Shaw University in Raleigh as valedictorian and later moved to Harlem in 1927. Baker experienced the effects of the Great Depression and the systemic barriers that faced the Black community. It was from here that Baker’s activism took off. She was integral to the growth of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and was later promoted to National Director of Branches. Later she was inspired to join the movements in the south and joined the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), where she became acquainted with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Baker’s influence in the Civil Rights Movement came as she continued to push for community-led efforts. She believed that marches and speeches would not have the sustainability of the long term impact needed for the movement. She consistently pushed boundaries within the SCLC as an outspoken female leader among male ministers. Baker reminded King of the Black women who were integral organizers of the movement. She continued organizing and pushing for civil rights through community-led efforts until her death in 1986. .  

Jo Ann Robinson

Jo Ann Robinson, a teacher and activist, was a key part in the success of the Montgomery Bus Boycott. The bus boycott, famously sparked by Rosa Parks was then supported by Robinson who was the president of the Women’s Political Council. Soon after Park’s arrest, Robinson orchestrated the distribution of 35,000 flyers to the community advertising the movement to a bus boycott in light of the recent events. Robinson’s efforts lead to the development of a carpool system so people could go to work. After 13 months of boycotting, the Supreme Court declared that segregation on buses was unconstitutional. The success of the protests was essential in launching Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as a defining leader and a major signifying event for the Civil Rights Movement. Robinson credited the community and the women for the work saying, “women’s leadership was no less important to the development of the Montgomery Bus Boycott than was the male and minister-dominated leadership”. After the Montgomery boycott, she went on to continue teaching and remained active in local politics until her death in 1976

The Great Man Theory and Harm to History

The Great Man Theory is an approach to leadership and a historical lens that finds that leaders are “born not made” with natural qualities of charisma and bringing order to chaos. This theory originated from Scottish historian Thomas Carlyle and has been a major influence on the way the West learns about historical events and movements. It is imperative to remember the sacrifices made to the Civil Rights Movement, including the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. That being said, all too often our narratives fall short to include the whole picture, including the work of many Black women that fought and sacrificed for the movement with little to no recognition for their efforts. The Great Man Theory credits the leadership qualities that originate from birth, yet time and again, there is evidence that no greatness is ever created alone. Today, we live in a legacy created both by a great man and a multitude of civil rights activists, including many truly extraordinary women.  

Coretta Scott King

She was a musician, mother, activist, and social justice warrior. Coretta Scott married Dr. King in 1953 and they stood together in the fight for equity. Mrs. King has such an impressive resume it would be impossible to cover all she did in a few sentences. Her never-ending fight for social change has left incredible strides in this area of work. She formed the Coalition of Consciousness which houses over 800 human rights organizations. She founded the King Center which provides training on Dr. King’s philosophies and established the MLK holiday to name some of the revolutionary things she achieved. She was known for being the voice for peace by speaking up in rallies, motivating millions in the process. She continues to be one of the most influential and prominent people in social justice and change work.

Dr. Bernice King

Daughter of Martin and Coretta, Dr. Bernice King has paved herself a legacy just as phenomenal as her parents. Dr. King received her Doctorate in Law and Master’s in Divinity from Emory University, as well as her Bachelor’s in Psychology from Spellman College. She is known as a thought leader, educator, and peace advocate by many. As the CEO of the King Center, she provides education about the nonviolent legacies and philosophies her parents left behind. Similarly to her mother, she continues to be a voice for peace speaking for television, teaching master classes and workshops and universities, and worship through her faith. Her work is a pillar in the fight for social change and equity as she works to honor her parents’ legacies through her transformational leadership.

The Importance of Intersectionality

With both of King women mentioned here, we get a glance at some of the most revolutionary work that came and still continues from the MLK movement. This brings an important conversation to the table that highlights the experiences of these Black women through the lens of intersectionality. Faced with some of the most barriers when it comes to oppression, the Black women mentioned in this blog have helped lead the movement towards equity. In the face of adversity, these women have not only persevered for themselves, but their communities. The negative rhetoric around Black women has happened for centuries and continues erases the influence and impacts of people like this. Without them, we would not be as advanced in this fight. We honor these women by remembering the importance of Black women and their position in society today. 

Dorothy Cotton

Dorothy Cotton started her civil rights journey in the 1950’s when she met the pastor of Gillfield Baptist Church and became the secretary of the Petersburg Improvement Association. She met Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and joined him in a dinner as the administrative assistant for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in the 1960’s. As time went on Cotton started to work with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and became one of SCLC’s most important leaders. She was one of only a few woman in King’s circle of trusted individuals. Cotton became a crucial part of the Civil Rights Movement through her teaching of literacy, citizenship, and nonviolent protest tactics.

Dorothy Height

Dorothy Height got her start with civil rights in the late 1920’s upon joining the National Council of Negro Women where she went on to become president. This included being head of the council during a crucial part of the Civil Rights Movement. Height did a lot of work specifically with African American women as she was one of the first individuals to recognize the issues that they face specifically. Height was also the only woman to serve with the “Big Six” during the Civil Rights Movement. The “Big Six” were the six most prominent Black civil rights leaders during the 1960s; Asa Philip Randolph; Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., James Farmer Jr., John Lewis,Whitney Young, Jr., and Roy Wilkins. Height wore many other hats throughout her life including serving on the President’s Committee on the Employment of the Handicapped, and the Presidential Commission on the Status of Women. Height was awarded many medals for her Civil Rights work fighting for equality for African Americans and women.  

The Importance of Grassroots Organizing

Grassroots organizing utilizes people in a specific community as the basis for a political or economic movement. While King spoke and worked the larger stage across the U.S., Height and Cotton focused on their local communities. Both women did remarkable work during the Civil Rights Movement, through persistent use of political mobilization, education, and communication. They embraced the chaos that came along with grass roots organizing while sticking to their goals and beliefs. In order to do the work that was integral to the Civil Rights Movement, they had to build community and rapport with those around them. They had to gain individual's trust to effect change through their local communities that would ripple to surrounding communities. Height and Cotton emphasized a strong sense of community through their work and demonstrated the importance of the individual and the community in making lasting change.