THE WOMEN’S CLUB MOVEMENT

As the United States remained fragmented, women came together

Post-reconstruction America was a place of great turmoil and social unrest, but while much of the country was pulling itself apart socially and politically, many women were banding together to form groups for the betterment of their peers and neighbours. The Women’s Club movement had myriad interests, often varying based on geography and the makeup of the club itself, but they typically interested themselves in public health, education and women’s suffrage with a ground-up, self-help perspective. For African-american women, such clubs would also look to combat racism and inequality.

Wells was a key player in setting up some of these clubs, using them as a platform to spread her anti-lynching message. Many of these clubs saw the greatest success in the northeast of the country. In 1896 several of these Black Women’s Clubs joined together to form the National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs, led by Mary Church Terrell. While many of these clubs were mostly interested in uplifting and educating their members they also inspired direct action, as well as organisations such as mutual benefit societies, social housing and unions for Black workers. They also organised to settle Black women arriving in the north from the southern states.