Olivia Campbell

Mindy Kretchmer, born in Chicago, 1956 was also known as my grandmother. Mindy grew up in a military family with a strong democratic side forcing her to continue that path as she grew older. Voting was always a part in life she wanted to take part in. As excited as she was, Mindy voted for the first time in 1974. Due to the Vietnam war, the age had changed from 21 to 18 giving Mindy a higher excitement rate in voting.
 
In the 70's, Mindy grew up at a very confusing time. Richard Nixon had just resigned from the presidency under many conflicts, and Gerald Ford came next in office. In 1977, Mindy had voted for Jimmy Carter who had coincidentally played sports with her family; these were very happy times. When it came down to voting, it was a tough decision. Though it was exciting, Mindy really struggled in choosing a candidate. After voting, she felt like a true American; all grown up. Mindy's adulthood had just begun. Voting didn't seem too exciting, but for her it was. This was a privilege as well as an honor for her. Due to her father serving 20 years in the Army, and her mom working as a civil servant for the government, our political system was very important to her.

At age 63, Mindy still finds the joy and excitement in voting. For her, it is still an everyday honor to have parents like hers and to vote as a woman and have it mean something. There was always a divide in women's voting rights, but luckily Mindy had the chance to vote while she was young. Time was taken carefully, and all the pros and cons were all taken into consideration. As she looks back, Mindy sees no reason as to why she should have voted for any other president.

As Mindy grows older now in 2019, she has become an influence on me and other members in my family. As strong of a woman as Mindy is, she could also be an influencer to other people all over. Her strong diverse conversations on politics and always wanting to watch the news to see what Trump is up to always makes me see how important voting is for our future president. Is my vote, right? Will this one last and make a big impact? These are words Mindy Kretchmer would ask.

The lady on a white horse was also known as Inez Milholland Boissevain, a suffragist fighting for women rights and equality for all. In 1913, Inez lead a suffrage parade in Washington D.C, raising awareness of all genders, races, and religions. Milholland was a famous influencer toward gender equality, racial justice, pacifism, unions and free speech, giving people the feeling of hope and final justice. Throughout those days of hard work and negative feedback, she never gave up on herself and other people who needed freedom for what was right.

Inez Milholland was born in Brooklyn 1886, then later moved to London at age 13. Inez spent her life in the family's home while also attending Kensington High School for Girls. This school was special as it allowed daughters of shopkeepers to study alongside the daughters of the upper class. She had participated in sports and clubs; however, her interest changed. 

Milholland met the famous suffragette, Emmeline Pankhurst. While they had known each other, Inez and Emmeline made many meetings leading to Inez being a valid political activist. After graduation, both Yale and Harvard rejected Inez due to her gender. Later New York University welcomed her. While attending school there, she held a protest with fifty-six other classmates yelling, “Come, Let us Reason Together.” through a megaphone. This was the big start to her activism and her upcoming work. 

Through the display of a window, a voice shouted through calling “Votes for Women”. Once everyone's attention was collected, she began giving a speech on women's suffrage. The people were so fascinated with her that they left the president to go hear her. Later, “Joan of Arc” was the nickname Milholland was given when she rode a white horse at the head of 8,000 people in a pro-suffrage parade in Washington D.C.. This is when she became well known for what she did. This was a big change in people's lives, giving everybody a feeling. When war broke in Europe, Inez traveled and began to report on ongoing events. This was a good thing for some but for others, like the government of Italy, they were angered so badly that they expelled her from the country in 1915. Inez returned home, embarking on a tour in favor of women's suffrage. Although everyone who supported her was happy and well, she on the other hand was not. Doctors and friends suddenly began to beg her to rest. Bolstered by the crowds, Inez gave spirited, fierce speeches but, behind all of that, she was ill. By this time, she was anguishing from a growing infection. In Butte, Montana, she awakened unable to stand. Suddenly, on October 22nd, 1916, Inez collapsed in front of a full Los Angeles auditorium. The infection weakened her heart and she was hospitalized with pernicious anemia. At age thirty, Inez died, still making history day after day. In 1920, the 19th amendment to the constitution was ratified by so many states that it became a law giving women their long-sought right to vote.
 
Inez Milholland died before ever seeing what her hard work had done for all women of the United States. Perseverance was a big part in Inez's life and kept going through all her work. Through men's hatred and even herself, she never gave up on her dream of being able to vote as a woman. Her hard work was a huge success. Some men may have hated the part she played in the fight for women's voting rights, but all comes to an end and fair truthfulness is what was and is needed. Inez proved it all, and in everyone's eyes, she earned it.

Inez Milholland Boissevain, also known as the lady on a horse, was a suffragette who fought for women's rights, gender equality, pacifism, racial justice, unions, and free speech. Despite the negative reactions she received, she persisted. Milholland organized protests and parades as well as writing moving news articles, gravitating everyone's attention to the issues of inequality. Decades later, Milholland's legacy was carried out by the women who were the first to legally cast their vote in the 1974 presidential election. My grandmother, Mindy Kretchmer was one of those women. To this day she understands the importance of women having the right to vote.

Having an understanding of the history of women's fight for the right to vote is important to me as a female student. Today, as I look back at the way voting rights used to be in America, I see how privileged I am to have the chance to make the world what I want. Being able to vote and have a possible outcome of what I want is exciting but also important. If it wasn't for all the suffragettes from the 1900s, we as women wouldn't have the chance to go in our direction. Now as a woman, I feel that I am powerful and that I can make my own decisions without feeling that I am under someone's authority, especially a man's.

When it comes down to voting, we ask ourselves, many questions. Is this the right president? Is my choice valid? What will happen later in life with their decisions? To some people, it seems that everyone is equal, but that's not the case. For example, Puerto Rico is part of the U.S territory but do not get to vote in elections. Why is this fair when they have just the same amount of rights as everyone else? Our political system needs to change. First we had women's fight for the right to vote. Now, we should have Puerto Rico's fight for the right vote. From then to now there has been significant changes in our political system. I am happy to live as a woman with voting rights!