Black Women in the Florida Legislature Term Paper

Open, View, and/or
Download this Document

Total Length: 925 words ( 3 double-spaced pages)

Total Sources: 1+

Page 1 of 3

Black Women in the Florida Legislature:

A Short History of Cherry, Meek, and Joyner

There is little question that the history of women's participation in the United States Political scene has been a rocky one. Indeed, from the birth of the nation, women have had to struggle for the most basic rights of governmental participation -- from the acquisition of the vote, to the winning of the most basic issues of equality under the laws of the land. However, when one enters into the history of women's participation in the halls of government, the struggles of women in general, and Black women in particular are even more pronounced. Given this reality, it is interesting to view the political lives of three of Florida's legislators -- Gwendolyn Cherry, Carrie Meek and Arthenia Joyner -- all Black women who have surpassed tremendous odds and difficulties in order to take their place in the history of the United States.

Until recently, Florida was one state that was considered one of the relatively "conservative" states of the South. As Wendy Loquasto stated in her speech delivered at the Ceremonial Legislative Session Honoring the First 150 Florida Women Lawyers, " ... because the greatest tribute we could pay to these women is recognition that Florida was a very different place when they came on the legal scene and that Florida is a better place today because of their actions ...

Stuck Writing Your "Black Women in the Florida Legislature" Term Paper?

View All Our Example Black Women in the Florida Legislature Term Paper

Have A Custom Example Essay Written

(Loquasto, 2000)." Thus, when the first African-American woman, Gwen Sawyer Cherry was elected to the Florida Legislature in 1970, many considered (and rightly so) the event to be of immense historical as well as symbolic importance in that an era of clear cut racial division had finally ended.

Gwen Sawyer Cherry was hardly new to trend setting when she took her seat in the Florida Legislature. In fact, she was also Dade County's first black female attorney,

And enjoyed an impressive education leading up to her striking career. In fact, by the time Cherry entered the legislature, she had earned three degrees, a Bachelors and a Law degree from Florida A& M, as well as a Masters Degree in science from New York University (FCSW, 2003).

Of her most notable legislative work, Gwendolyn Cherry introduced the groundbreaking Equal Rights Amendment in 1972, in which she introduced the Equal Rights Amendment, which states in part, "equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex (HOFA, 2002)." In addition, she worked chairing the groundbreaking State Committee for the International Woman's Year in 1978, and co-authored the work, "Portraits in Color (FCSW, 2003).

Another notable example of a Black woman in Florida legislative history is Carrie Meek, who was elected to serve in the.....

Show More ⇣

     Open the full completed essay and source list


OR

     Order a one-of-a-kind custom essay on this topic


sample essay writing service

Cite This Resource:

Latest APA Format (6th edition)

Copy Reference
"Black Women In The Florida Legislature" (2004, November 17) Retrieved June 6, 2026, from
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/black-women-florida-legislature-60029

Latest MLA Format (8th edition)

Copy Reference
"Black Women In The Florida Legislature" 17 November 2004. Web.6 June. 2026. <
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/black-women-florida-legislature-60029>

Latest Chicago Format (16th edition)

Copy Reference
"Black Women In The Florida Legislature", 17 November 2004, Accessed.6 June. 2026,
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/black-women-florida-legislature-60029
   

Open, View, and/or
Download this Document
order custom essay example