Colored Women's League facts for kids

The Colored Women's League (CWL) was an important club for African-American women in Washington, D.C.. It began in June 1892. Helen Appo Cook was its first president.

The main goal of the CWL was to bring together Black women's groups across the country. In 1896, the CWL joined with another group, the Federation of Afro-American Women. Together, they formed the National Association of Colored Women. Mary Church Terrell became the first president of this new, larger organization.

History of the Colored Women's League

In June 1892, several leading Black women in Washington, D.C. met. They wanted to create a club to help Black children, women, and people in need. Some of these women included Anna J. Cooper, Helen Appo Cook, Mary Church Terrell, and Ida B. Wells.

Helen Appo Cook was chosen as the first president. The Colored Women's League brought together 113 different organizations. Their main aim was to create national unity among Black women.

What the League Achieved

In 1894, Helen Appo Cook shared some of the league's successes. She wrote about them in The Woman's Era. This was the first national newspaper made by and for African American women.

The league hosted public talks for girls at high schools and Howard University. They also raised money for a league home. They started classes in German, English Literature, and hygiene. The CWL also set up a sewing school and a mending service. This school had 88 students and ten teachers. Mary Church Terrell also shared updates about the CWL's work in the newspaper.

A historian named Fannie Barrier Williams said the CWL had the most members of any Black women's club in the country.

How the League Merged with Others

The main goal of the CWL was to unite Black women across the nation. This goal was finally met on July 21, 1896. On this day, the Colored Women's League and the Federation of Afro-American Women joined together. They formed the National Association of Colored Women.

People in the Black community talked a lot about this merger. Many newspapers shared opinions about it. At first, the CWL didn't want to join the National Federation of Afro-American Women. This was because President Cook didn't have the full power to make that decision alone.

However, Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin encouraged the CWL to join. She wanted to protect the good name of Black women. This was in response to a Southern white journalist who wrote unfair things about Black women. To fight against these negative ideas, Margaret Murray Washington (president of the National Federation) and Helen A. Cook started planning to combine their groups.

After the two organizations merged, Mary Church Terrell became the first president of the new National Association of Colored Women.

Friendly Competition Between Groups

Both the Colored Women's League and the Federation of Afro-American Women had similar goals. They both wanted to improve life for Black women, children, and those in need. But before they merged, they didn't always agree.

One reason for this friendly competition was a debate about which group was the first to be a national organization. Mary Church Terrell, who became the first president of the NACW, explained it. She said the CWL was the first to suggest a national organization. But the National Federation of Afro-American Women was the first Black women's group to actually meet nationally.

After the NACW was created, there was a short competition for who would lead the new national group. Each organization had seven delegates voting. This made the voting difficult, with many ties. Finally, Mary Church Terrell from the Colored Women's League was chosen as the first president of the NACW. She was thirty-three years old at the time.

National League of Colored Women's Goals

On July 21, 1896, the Colored Women’s League joined with the National Federation of Afro-American Women. They formed the National League of Colored Women. This new organization was created in Washington D.C. Mary Church Terrell was elected as its first president.

The new organization expanded on the CWL's goals to help Black women across the country. Their main goals included:

• To bring together Black women from all over the nation.
• To make life better for Black women locally and nationally.
• To gather facts showing the "moral, intellectual, industrial and social growth" of Black people.
• To encourage unity and find ways to help Black people in every way.
• To create a kindergarten for the Black community.
• To help educate young people.
• To teach evening classes in subjects like literature and language.