The Time is Always Ripe
In the Aeolian spirit, Swift and Terrell began the process of rooting out the racial bias and prejudices that had taken root in the Washington branch of the association. The first step was to get Terrell, who had been a member some years before, reinstated. Terrell applied and was invited to be a member but when the branch became aware that she was "colored" the membership was revoked. In response, one hundred and sixteen ardent supporters submitted an appeal to the parent association to render a decision on the question, "Shall members of the Negro race be admitted to membership in the University Women's Club, Washington branch AAUW?" The answer was a decided yes and the national board reminded the Washington branch that the only requirement for membership was a degree from an approved university or college. Terrell resubmitted her application for membership in the Washington branch but "this request never received the courtesy of a reply."When I asked the branch president, 'What would happen if a fine colored woman were proposed for membership in the branch?' she replied, 'It would split the club into two factions.'
I needed verification of this feeling, so I talked with the membership committee chairman. She was impressed by my recital of the qualifications of my friend until I mentioned that Mrs. Terrell's skin was a shade darker than mine. 'What --colored!' she exclaimed, her eyes fairly bulging with horror. 'Oh, no!'
One more confirmation of this opinion seemed necessary to me, so I called a woman of 'liberal' views whose opinion I greatly respected. 'What would you think of proposing a qualified colored woman as a member of the branch?' She did not believe in discrimination but thought 'the time was not ripe' for such a test case. That settled it. The time is always ripe for a GOOD move!
The National association then ordered the Washington branch to accept Terrell's membership or face expulsion. The Branch would not submit. The lawyers were brought in and a battle ensued. The branch gained the upper hand when the D. C. Courts ruled in their favor, sanctioning the exclusionary practice. Dr. Althea K. Hottel, president of the National association, began a campaign to get a majority of members on board to support new bylaws that would clearly demarcate graduation from an approved AAUW college as the only requirement for membership in the organization. The vote at the 1949 annual Convention in Seattle, 2,168 for and 65 against, clearly reflected the integrity of an association standing on the right side of history.
Mary Church Terrell's membership was reinstated and the Washington branch withdrew from the association forming a new organization called the [College Women Club]. Mary Church Terrell, Janet McKelvey Swift and their supporters worked hard to bring about this change which took nearly three years to accomplish. The story did not end there, however, for the original Washington branch reunited with the AAUW and years later recognized Mrs. Terrell posthumously naming a scholarship in her honor.
