Women’s Equality Day will take place August 23 at Dallas City Hall
Public service has always been a vital part of life for Leslie Swann, President of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Dallas Alumnae Chapter. It was important to her to give back to the underprivileged and underrepresented and the Sorority has helped to fulfill that desire. Swann has been actively involved with the Sorority for over 25 years.
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. was founded in 1913 by twenty-two collegiate women at Howard University. These students wanted to use their collective strength to promote academic excellence and to provide assistance to persons in need.
One of the earliest causes the Sorority became actively involved in was The Fight for Women’s Sufferage, women’s legal right to vote. Although women's voting rights are taken for granted today, they were earned through a long brutal campaign by women that began in the 1700's. Until that time, women were not allowed the right to own property, to have legal claim to the money they earned, nor the right to vote. Clothes, jewelry, and land were owned by their husbands or fathers. Bibles were one of their few possessions that they could hand down to their children. The campaign culminated nearly 150 years later when the 19th Amendment was passed on August 26, 1920.
The history of that campaign is kept alive annually on Women’s Equality Day because there are still many battles to be fought for women’s equality. Actress Robin Wright made headlines last year when she demanded to be paid the same as her costar on House of Cards, Kevin Spacey. She won, but the fact is she had to ask for it.
The Sorority’s Dallas Alumnae Chapter is a sponsor for Women’s Equality Day which has been celebrated in Dallas for more than 20 years. Over 100 women wearing white are expected to descend upon City Hall on August 23. White became a symbol for the suffrage movement, as women rallied and protested for the right to vote. The event will be held from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. in the Flag Room on the 6th floor of City Hall located at 1500 Marilla Drive. It will include a Proclamation recognizing the 97th Anniversary of Women’s Equality Day given by Mayor Rawlings with the City Council, and County Commissioners, and others in attendance. The event is open to the public.
Betty Ritchie and JoAnn Jenkins are the event chairs. Jana Barker is the President of WIN.
Sponsors for this event are: Dallas Women’s Foundation, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Dallas Alumnae Chapter, Jane’s Due Process, Junior League of Dallas, League of Women Voters of Dallas, National Council of Jewish Women Greater Dallas, League of Women Voters of Collin County, Peacemakers, Inc., Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas, S.E. Dallas Business & Professional Women’s Club, Texas Muslim Women’s Foundation, Inc., The Afiya Center, United Nations Association—Dallas Chapter, Women’s Issues Network, America Association of University Women, Dallas Branch, Dallas County Democratic Party, Carol Donovan, Chair of the Dallas County Democratic Party, Federally Employed women, Dallas Area Chapter, Hispanic 100, Hispanic Women’s Network of Texas, League of Women Voters of Irving, Martha Tiller Company Public Relations, Media Projects, Inc., Southwest Jewish Congress, Texas Equal Access Fund, Texas Latina List, Texas Muslim Women’s Foundation.