About The Festival
Raising 100 years of women’s voices in society, the ONE WOMAN, ONE VOTE 2020 Festival is a collaboration with national organizations and cultural institutions to present films, concerts, exhibitions, and public events leading into the commemoration of the centennial year of the 19th amendment passing, and the OWOV Film Festival in March 2020. The film festival event showcases documentary and dramatic films that embrace both history and contemporary issues that make a difference for all women today.
On August 26, 1920, after 72 years of hard fought battles, the 19th Amendment to the Constitution finally guaranteed the right to vote to all American women. Yet, having a constitutional right to cast a ballot did not automatically mean equal voting access for all.
In reflecting on the history, we recognize how political expediency to secure the vote for women would benefit white middle-class women, but neglect the dedicated suffrage work by African American, immigrant, and working class women. It would take another four years for Native American women to gain the right to vote; and more than a decade before Asian American and non-English-speaking women voters were enfranchised.
More organizing, petitioning and marching by a broad coalition of men and women was necessary to enact legislation including the Civil Rights Act of 1965 and to overcome state and local laws restricting voting rights.
ONE WOMAN ONE VOTE 2020 Festival highlights these stories and more to inspire and empower all women today and for the future. We hope you will join us as we celebrate a century of women speaking out and the power of each woman’s voice to elevate the voices of all.