Basic Information
Irene Moorman Blackstone, a black businesswoman social activist for equal rights, was part of the first wave of feminism and a clubhouse member in Brooklyn. Blackstone was very known in the Harlem circles, in which she joined New York Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) in Harlem in 1917 (Blain, 2018). Blackstone was president of the Negro Women’s Business League before becoming president of the New York (UNIA) Ladies’ Division in 1917. In addition, Blackstone promoted and encouraged the black economy to improve and urged black people to stand up for their economic rights (Iowa State University, 2022). Blackstone was a passionate activist, entrepreneur, company founder, and member of multiple organizations. Later, Blackstone supported herself by selling newspapers in Harlem.
Background Information
Irene Moorman Blackstone was born in January 1872 from her mother, Johanna Moorman (formerly enslaved person), and from an unknown father in Virginia. However, in 1900 she and her family moved to New York. When Blackstone lived in New York, she worked in the Metropolitan Mercantile and Realty Company. Her education level information is unknown. In 1911, she married a man named Blackstone; it is unknown what happened in her marriage, but Blackstone was a widow for a long time (Goodier, 2017). Blackstone’s career started “as a sub-agent in the brokerage business” (Iowa State University 2022).
Blackstone was one of the essential women in the first wave of feminism, beginning in the late 1800s. Furthermore, Blackstone was formerly president of the Negro Women’s Business League before becoming president of the New York (UNIA) Ladies’ Division in 1917. Throughout this time, she was “committed to women’s rights and leadership opportunities urging black women they should leave white women’s kitchens, urging them to build their livelihoods by relying on their unique skills and creativity” (Blain, 2018). In addition, she did battle for racial fairness, including the right to vote and advocating against African American discrimination.
Blackstone worked passionately and spoke to the UNIA members to promote and encourage the black economy to improve and urge black people, motivating to open and support black owned businesses. In 1919, she was the first Black African stockholder, the same year the 19th Amendment passed. In 1930, she got nominated for vice president of the New York City Federation of Women’s Clubs, and after just one year, she became the president of a local and state office of the union. Blackstone was an African American entrepreneur, club member, and suffragist. As a businesswoman and activist, Blackstone worked vigorously to prevent discrimination against black Americans in achieving socioeconomic and constitutional equal opportunities. In addition, she was the president of the Metropolitan Businesswomen’s Club in Brooklyn that she founded. Finally, Blackstone is remembered for creating racial, social cooperation in the New York suffrage campaign (Iowa State University, 2022).
Contributions to the First Wave
In 1920, after decades of struggle for women’s voting rights, American women reached a milestone because women’s suffrage was accorded when the 19th Amendment was passed. It is considered the end of the first wave of feminism (Proulx, 2020).
Blackstone started participating in women’s suffrage in 1907, “when she joined Sarah J. S. Garnet’s Colored Women’s Equal Suffrage League of Brooklyn in December 1907” (Goodier, 2017). Together Blackstone and Garnet represented the organization in January 1910, meeting with rich upper-class white suffragists, such as Alva Vanderbilt Belmont. Blackstone was directly involved with Belmont, who wanted to expand women’s suffrage to black women (Goodier, 2017).
Additionally, Blackstone continued contributing and became a speaker in different events for women’s suffrage. “Moorman [Blackstone] spoke about the ways that settlement house workers promoted suffrage and political equality at the New York State Woman Suffrage Association convention in Niagara Falls” (Goodier, 2017, para. 3). In addition, Blackstone organized meetings side by side, strengthening the movement. Her influence and acceptance eventually increased through her activism. Blackstone represented the Negro Men’s and Women’s Branch of the Political Equality Association in October 1910. Goodier added that Blackstone was on trial in June 1912, in which it was alleged that she deceived several well-known wealthy people by using the mail. However, the verdict is lost to history. Nevertheless, that did not stop her from fighting for righteousness; she actively worked and belonged to numerous organizations.
Blackstone also played an essential role in creating and producing socioeconomic justice to African Americans and ethnic partnership in the New York suffrage campaign. The number pf organizations in which Blackstone was involved was truly remarkable. For example, the Negro Business League (New York), Empire State Federation Women’s Club (Brooklyn), National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs, Young Women’s Christian Association, Colored Women’s Equal Suffrage League of Brooklyn, Political Equality League (1907) and much more. In addition, she was a regular, very known speaker and arranged events for women’s suffrage throughout the years (Iowa State University, 2022).
Furthermore, Blackstone was one of Marcus Garvey’s (socialist) first public appearances in New York City in 1916. She was a president of the ladies’ division of the New York Branch of the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA). Even after the women the suffrages won, she continued to promote racial equality until 1944. At that time, she aided as second vice-president on the board of the Ethiopian World Federation. Additionally, Blackstone earned a living by selling newspapers in Harlem (Goodier, 2017).
I am American. I am Black, and I am proud that I am Black.
~ Irene Moorman Blackstone (Blain, 2018)
Analysis and Conclusion
Irene Moorman Blackstone was a strong Black African American. She fought for women’s suffrage, Black businesses, economic improvement and was part of multiple groups that fought for the women’s right to vote—in addition, fighting for Black women’s rights. Blackstone encouraged them to leave working under the supervision of white and white people’s houses and fight for their rights. Blackstone attended countless meetings. Her strength was that even after her trial in 1912, she still did not give up on fighting for Black women’s suffrage, black economy, and businesses. In addition, Blackstone was a leader of multiple organizations and was very well known for her passion for what she believed in. Furthermore, even though there was no information about her education, it appears that she was middle class and had some privilege relative to other black women of the day.
There is no doubt that Blackstone’s role in the first wave was undeniable and significant. Blackstone, was a passionate activist, entrepreneur, company founder, and multiple clubs member, the first black woman to buy a stock publicly. In addition, she was president and vice president of various organizations throughout the years. After the achievement of suffrage, she sold black American newspapers. Even though she had many struggles and obstacles, she continued her fight for social justice, black business, women’s suffrage, and black women’s rights.
References
Blain, K. N. (2018, May 28). Black Nationalist Women’s activism in 1920s Harlem. The Gotham Center for New York City History. Retrieved February 4, 2022, from https://www.gothamcenter.org/blog/black-nationalist-womens-activism-in-1920s-harlem
Goodier, S. (2017). Biographical sketch of Irene Moorman Blackstone. Alexander Street: Alexandria, VA. Retrieved February 4, 2022, from https://search-alexanderstreet-com.offcampus.lib.washington.edu/view/work/bibliographic_entity%7Cbibliographic_details%7C3911196
Goodier, S., & Pastorello, K. (2017, November 8). A fundamental component: Black women and right to vote. The Gotham Center for New York City History. Retrieved February 4, 2022, from https://www.gothamcenter.org/blog/a-fundamental-component-black-women-and-right-to-vote
Iowa State University: Archives of Women’s Political Communication. (2022). Irene Moorman Blackstone. Retrieved February 4, 2022, from https://awpc.cattcenter.iastate.edu/directory/irene-moorman-blackstone/
Proulx, N. (2020, September 17). 19 ways to teach the 19th Amendment. The New York Times. Retrieved February 4, 2022, from https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/17/learning/lesson-plans/19-ways-to-teach-the-19th-amendment.html
Wayne, B. (1907). African American businesswoman, UNIA activist and suffragette, Irene L. Moorman-Blackstone [Photograph]. File: Irene L. Moorman.png. Retrieved February 3 from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Irene_L._Moorman.png