African American Women During The 20th Century

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Many women during the 20th century were having problems with their husbands because of their regular alcohol consumption. Men became violent with their wife’s and children, they would forget about God, they would lose their jobs for coming into work drunk or late, and they would waste life savings to buy alcohol. These problems continued and worsened, not only were women concerned but also some men, African Americans, and church leaders. As more and more problems started to arise something had to be done, the prohibition movement was on its way to help rid what many defined as the “American Problem”. Women spoke out and started their own unions to advocate what the dangers of alcohol were. In schools they would teach children that alcohol was the worst thing to do and the children made promises to never touch an alcoholic drink as long as they lived. Even men who drank signed pledges to stop drinking because there was a spark going on that people saw, that spark was that alcohol is not good for you, your family, and your community. …show more content…

Frederick Douglas even said, “drinking whisky makes me feel like a president.” Everyone was drinking and it was something that they were proud of and had no intentions of stopping. Many people who drank fought the movement because the saloons were not only places to drink at but also a place to make deals, a place to cash your check, and a place to go to after a long hard day of work. The idea of getting rid of alcohol seemed as a threat to people who drank, many said that their human freedom was being

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