Hopkinsville marchers commemorate the American centennial of women’s suffrage

"The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation." — The 19th Amendment

Several dozen women marched behind a police escort from the Christian County Courthouse to the Justice Center chanting “votes for women” Tuesday afternoon to mark the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment.

women's suffrage march hopkinsville
Marchers make their way up Seventh Street as they head toward the Christian County Justice Center. The Hopkinsville League of Women Voters organized the march. (Photo by Jennifer P. Brown)

Most of the marchers were dressed in white — the color chosen by suffragettes a century ago to represent purity — and wore sashes celebrating the landmark victory that recognized a woman’s right to vote. Everyone appeared to have a mask to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Heading up South Main and then to Seventh Street, the marchers carried American flags and banners that proclaimed “Let’s finish what they started” and “There’s still work to be done.”

In a brief rally in front of the Justice Center, longtime League of Women Voters representative Carolyn Self brought a modern political message to the commemoration. Concerns persist today about efforts to suppress votes in the United States, said Self. 

“Now we have to protect the post office, of all things,” she said, referring to President Trump’s threats to withhold coronavirus funding intended to help the U.S. Postal Service handle mail ballots in the November general election.

Most of the Hopkinsville rally, though, was devoted to the history of women’s suffrage, including the story of a young state legislator who broke a tie vote in the Tennessee House on Aug. 18, 1920, which secured the 36th state needed to ratify the 19th Amendment. He was Harry T. Burn, a 24-year-old Republican who worked for the Southern Railway. 

Burn favored the amendment but was pressured by other lawmakers and constituents to join the opposition. On the day of the vote, he wore a red rose in his coat lapel, which signaled his opposition. The “antis” wore red roses; the “pros” had yellow buds. 

But Burn also had with him that day a letter from his mother, Febb Burn, who was back at the family farm in McMinn County. She urged him to vote for the women. Her letter told him, “Don’t forget to be a good boy …” and ended, “With lots of love, Mama.”

women's suffrage marchers in front of justice center
Alissa Keller, executive director of the Museums of Historic Hopkinsville-Christian County, speaks to the marchers from the front steps of the Justice Center. (Photo by Jennifer P. Brown)

Hopkinsville had its own historic figures in the political fight to secure the vote for women. 

Alissa Keller, executive director of the Museums of Historic Hopkinsville-Christian County, spoke about two — Bettiola Heloise Fortson and Mary Bronaugh. 

Fortson, born in Hopkinsville in 1890, was a published poet and essayist and a leader of black suffragettes during the 1910s in Chicago. She was only 26 years old when she died. Her eulogy was given by the famous journalist and anti-lynching activist Ida B, Wells.

Bronaugh, born in Hopkinsville five years before Fortson, studied at the Chicago Law School and was among the first woman in Kentucky to pass the bar. She was active in the suffrage movement and was the first president of the Kentucky League of Women Voters. She died in 1973.

Earlier this year, the Kentucky Historical Society approved a historical marker for Bronaugh in Hopkinsville.

Ruth Lature, a retired educator who prepared the application to KHS, said the marker’s installation has been delayed by the coronavirus pandemic but could be scheduled later this year. It will be in front of the Justice Center. 

Jennifer P. Brown is co-founder, publisher and editor of Hoptown Chronicle. You can reach her at editor@hoptownchronicle.org. She spent 30 years as a reporter and editor at the Kentucky New Era. She is a co-chair of the national advisory board to the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, governing board president for the Kentucky Historical Society, and co-founder of the Kentucky Open Government Coalition.