History Faculty Member to Discuss Women’s Fight to Vote on WGTE Special July 23

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Dr. Chelsea Griffis, associate lecturer in The University of Toledo Department of History, will be featured on a special edition of WGTE’s “BackStory” focusing on women’s right to vote.

“Revisiting the 19th Amendment” will stream live on wgte.org Thursday, July 23, at 7 p.m.

Griffis will talk about the aftermath of the amendment that prohibits states and federal government from denying the right to vote to citizens of the United States on the basis of sex. The amendment was ratified Aug. 18, 1920, and officially adopted eight days later.

“Now more than ever, it’s necessary to reflect on the importance and power of voting,” Griffis said. “Women struggled for 72 years to achieve the right to vote in the 19th Amendment, and we must also remember that many women of color were still unable to vote based on discriminatory legislation, threats and violence. This struggle has much to say about the current state of voting rights in the U.S.”

Following the program, Griffis and others will participate in a live question-and-answer session.

WGTE is partnering with the League of Women Voters of Bowling Green, Perrysburg area and Toledo-Lucas County chapters to create the women of northwest Ohio spotlights, which air weekly on WGTE and FM 91.

Griffis received a master of arts degree and doctorate in history, and a graduate certificate in women and gender studies, from The University of Toledo.

She also will help celebrate the suffrage centennial during a live Zoom event hosted by the Toledo Lucas County Public Library Tuesday, Aug. 25, at 6 p.m. Register for the event on the library website.