The 19th Amendment
The story of women’s equality is an intersection of innovation, perseverance, and a continuing fight for justice
Being an entrepreneur, especially as a Black woman, is about more than just being your own boss, controlling each of your choices, and increasing your income; it’s about the freedom to re-shape the world. So where does this freedom and the continuing struggle for equality intersect?
With you no longer in charge, your young adult would be extremely vulnerable in the event they become incapacitated by COVID-19 or another malady and lose their ability to make decisions about their own medical care. Seeing that putting a plan in place could literally save their lives, if your kids are already 18 or about to hit that milestone, it’s crucial that you discuss and have them sign the following legal documents.
The 19th Amendment and the Fight for Justice
It’s no secret that humans struggle to validate and recognize one another’s equality, contributions, and at times one another’s very humanity. While the 19th Amendment, ratified in 1920, brought voting rights to some women, it took decades of further fighting to bring that freedom to most Black women. This struggle has impacted Black women in more than just voting. At every step towards equality Black women have had to push harder and persevere longer to keep the needle moving forward.
The 19th Amendment gave women the right to vote, and this in of itself is a fantastic milestone, but freedom is slower moving in practice. This is true not only of the right to vote, but certainly in the business world as well. In the realm of business, even as society has progressed, Black women still face obstacles like bias, invalidation, and a deficit of opportunity.
This void, however, is where women as entrepreneurs can begin to stir a revolution.
Women in Business and Shaping the Future
Owning a business, and the way you do business, perpetuates something in the world. What is it perpetuating? Your brand voice is saying something that others will hear. What are they hearing? The power that you have as an entrepreneur can be a force that brings the fight for equality forward!
When you seek freedom as a business owner you have the opportunity to find freedom not only for yourself, but to perpetuate freedom for others. To recognize the humanity of others and to make space at your table that is inclusive.
Women in business have the power to shape this landscape for decades to come.
Be A Voice For Justice
As an attorney, I have a front row seat to many inequalities in my own industry. While the number of women graduating from law schools now exceeds the number of men, and women have made tremendous progress in the world of law, there are still glaring disparities at the executive level.
The higher up you go in the ranks of most law firms, the demographic skews disproportionately male. Like many other industries, law still suffers from a lack of women in leadership positions. This is an all-too-common story that Artisan Law strives against.
So with this I encourage you to reflect on what your own brand is perpetuating. Are there women at your table? Black women? Black men? Other melanated people? As we pursue justice and a better future, I think we’ll find a much richer and deeper world in the more inclusive workplaces of tomorrow.
