Ida M. Bowman Becks facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ida M. Bowman Becks
Born	Ida M. Bowman March 28, 1880 Armstrong, MO
Died	?
Occupation	elocutionist, suffragist, community organizer
Spouse(s)	H. W. Becks

Ida M. Bowman Becks (born March 28, 1880 – died 1953) was an amazing American woman. She was known as an elocutionist, which means she was a skilled public speaker. Ida was also a suffragist, meaning she worked hard for women's right to vote. She was a very important community organizer for African-American people.

Ida M. Bowman Becks helped start many community groups. She was especially active in Kansas City, Kansas. Her work made a big difference from the 1910s to the late 1940s.

Early Life and Education

Ida M. Bowman was born on March 28, 1880. Her hometown was Armstrong, Missouri. Her father's name was Milton Bowman.

Ida finished grammar school in 1896. After that, she went to the Lincoln School. This school was in Carrollton, Missouri. She graduated in 1899 as the top student in her class. Later, she continued her studies in Wichita, Kansas.

Moving to Kansas City

Ida moved to Dayton, Ohio. There, she worked as a secretary. She worked for the Colored Women‘s League. In Dayton, she met H. W. Becks. They got married in 1907. In 1908, Ida and H. W. Becks moved to Kansas City, Kansas.

Ida Becks worked for two years for the Florence Crittenton Home. This home was in Topeka, Kansas. She then became a representative for the National Training School. This school was in Washington, D.C.. She worked with the Women’s Auxiliary of the National Baptist Convention.

A Voice for Change

Ida Becks was famous across the country as an elocutionist. She was also a strong supporter of women's right to vote. She studied at the Chicago School of Elocution. She often gave speeches at public events.

In 1919, she spoke at a special event. It was a memorial service for Theodore Roosevelt. She talked about Roosevelt’s ideas on women's suffrage. That same year, Ida led a debate about women’s right to vote.

Community Work and Leadership

Ida Becks also worked to improve public health. In 1919, she helped raise money for the Red Cross. She also led the effort to start a local chapter of the National Urban League. This group helped African-American men. She also helped create a community center for them.

In the early 1920s, she was on the board of directors for Wheatley-Provident Hospital. She also helped create a local YWCA chapter. This YWCA served the African-American community.

In 1921, Ida Becks was one of five delegates. They went to the NAACP convention in Detroit. That year, she also started a Kansas City chapter of the Negro Women’s National Republican League. She was chosen as its leader.

Ida Becks was also a delegate in 1925. She represented Kansas City at the National Negro Educational Congress. She and other delegates used this meeting to talk about American society. They also discussed how Black people responded to it.

By 1926, Ida Becks was the president of the City Federation of Colored Women's Clubs. This group had a disagreement with the local NAACP. The NAACP wanted people to boycott a show called The Miracle. They said the seating was segregated. But Ida Becks and a friend went to the show anyway. She said they were "unmolested" and sat where "very few colored people were seated."

Ida Becks and her husband lived in Kansas City. They stayed active in the Baptist Church through the late 1940s.

Written Works

Ida Becks wrote a play. It was called Up From Slavery: Evening's Entertainment in 8 Acts. She officially registered her ownership of the play in 1916.