The Susan B Anthony Few Know
The Susan B. Anthony Few Know
By Elton Camp
In our day, Anthony is a person of note
Mostly in connection with womens’ vote
But name just one other thing she did do
Those who could do it are extremely few
Her image was on a dollar that didn’t do well
Is just about most people would be able to tell
We likely recall her visage that looked so stern,
But, in school, little about her work did we learn
She was active in urging and end to alcohol abuse
To try to speak at temperance rallies was no use
For a mere woman to address such a large crowd
Why, it just simply was shocking and not allowed
Opposition to slavery was a cause she advocated
Reasons to abolish the horrible practice she related
Both Douglass and Garrison she knew as friend
And planned with them how slavery best to end
Using speeches, posters, leaflets slavery to defeat,
Was hung in effigy, image dragged in the street
Property a woman owned, her husband could claim
Nothing of value could she hold in her own name
Women a college education weren’t allowed to get
With the University of Rochester, Anthony had a fit
Until the college came to admit it had made a mistake
And agreed that women as well as men they would take
About another injustice Susan B. Anthony had a say
It is fair that women, for equal work, get equal pay
She demanded that women to professions be admitted
With minds as good as men, to any occupation fitted
Anthony also agitated for a workday eight hours long
Shifts longer than that she explained, were just wrong
She encouraged women to enter into the printing trade
And for all to purchase goods that were American made
Her newspaper read, “Men their rights, and nothing more”
“Women their rights and nothing less.” Injustice did abhor.
Despite all the things the rights crusader came to do and say,
Very few know that February 15th is Susan B. Anthony Day
Copyright © Elton Camp | Year Posted 2011
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