Margaret Hawkins facts for kids
Margaret Briggs Gregory Hawkins (born August 5, 1877 – died April 8, 1969) was an important American teacher and activist. She worked hard to improve life for African Americans and for women. In 2021, she was honored by being added to the Maryland Women's Hall of Fame.
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Biography
Margaret Briggs Gregory was born in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. She was the third child of Professor James M. Gregory and Fannie Emma Whiting Hagan. Her father, a professor, inspired her to become a teacher.
Margaret went to Howard University, St. Augustine College, and Boston University. She earned a degree in history from Boston University. Her first teaching job was at the Bordentown School. She taught English, grammar, and modern languages there. She also helped students with Latin and German. In 1900, she taught American history at Frederick Douglass High School in Baltimore. This was the only public high school for Black children in the city.
In 1905, Margaret married Mason A. Hawkins. He was the principal at Douglass High School. They had two sons, Gregory and Mason A. Jr. Both sons served in World War II. Margaret Hawkins was very active in many groups. She was the first African American woman on the executive committee of the YWCA's Central Branch. She also helped with the Civilian Defense Mobilization during World War II. In 1906, she became the first president of the Dubois Circle. She also served as vice president of the Progressive Women's Suffrage Club. She worked with the Maryland Training School Board too.
Margaret Briggs Gregory Hawkins passed away in Baltimore on April 8, 1969. She was buried at Arbutus Memorial Park.
National Association of Colored Women
The National Association of Colored Women was a very large group. It brought together many clubs for African American women. This group started in 1896. Mary Church Terrell helped to create it. The group supported women's right to vote. Their motto was "Lifting as We Climb." This motto reminded members to help and support other African Americans. They worked for equality and more opportunities for everyone.
African Americans wanted more than just the right to vote. They wanted equal chances in schools and jobs. They also wanted fair treatment in everyday life. This was especially important because of Jim Crow laws in the South. These laws kept people separate based on their skin color. Many large suffrage groups, like the National American Woman Suffrage Association, did not allow Black women to join. This made the National Association of Colored Women even more important. They stood up and fought for change.
Margaret Hawkins joined this association in 1912. Estelle Hall Young and Augusta Chissell also joined. They used their experience from the DuBois Circle. They shared knowledge and information with other African American women. They helped women learn how to make a difference.
Colored Young Women's Christian Association (CYWCA)
Many clubs and groups formed across the country. They wanted to raise awareness and fight for equality. They also wanted to provide education for African American women. Some brave women met in political settings. Others met in churches and homes. They learned how to gain knowledge and power.
Hawkins, Chissell, and Young met in places like Sharp Street Methodist and Union Baptist. These meetings helped create the National Association of Colored Women in Baltimore. The CYWCA helped other suffrage groups start in the Baltimore area. It was a welcoming place for meetings. After the Nineteenth Amendment passed, education classes were held there.
Progressive Women's Suffrage Club
The Nineteenth Amendment was passed on August 18, 1920. This gave women the right to vote. Women had fought for over 70 years to achieve this. Many suffrage groups met in homes and secret places. They worked to gain support. The General Federation of Women's Citizenship was a large group. It included thousands of women's suffrage clubs. Women often met in homes because society expected them to be homemakers.
The fight for democracy and fear of war motivated these activists. The groups grew as the country faced new issues. The fight for voting rights continued until 1920. After that, many clubs focused on supporting the war effort. However, these groups were often segregated. Black women and white women could not join the same groups. Many white leaders did not believe Black women should vote. But the Fifteenth Amendment fueled the fight for equality. This amendment had given African American men the right to vote. Women of color fought for better living conditions and against unfair treatment.
The Progressive Women's Suffrage Club started in Baltimore in 1915. Estelle Hall Young founded it. The club worked to promote women's right to vote. It also worked on other important civil rights issues. This group was one of the first known Black suffrage clubs in the United States. In 1916, 250 people attended one of their meetings on women's suffrage. After that, the club met at the Colored YWCA. They continued meeting there until the Nineteenth Amendment was passed. Later, the group focused on teaching voters. They taught people how important their vote was. They also taught how to use their new right effectively.
Margaret Hawkins was very important to the club's success. She had over 40 years of experience in education. She often opened her home for club meetings. She worked hard to show why education and knowledge were needed. One of her most notable works was protecting the Fifteenth Amendment. At one point, the voting rights of African American men were at risk. Hawkins helped lead the fight to keep these rights. A local reporter said that if Black men organized and learned, the amendment threatening their rights would fail. The women succeeded in protecting the men's right to vote and register.
Hawkins led the group in working for social justice. She fought for all people, no matter their sex, race, or religion. She followed the example of her parents, who also fought for social justice. Through her teaching experience, she stressed the benefits of being a citizen. She also emphasized improving the community and having a public voice. These meetings became known as "Citizenship Meetings."
