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On February 22, 1732, George Washington was born into a world of vast inequality — where slavery was entrenched, women had no rights, and political power was concentrated among wealthy landowning men.

As a slave-owning member of the Virginia planter class and a respected military hero of the French and Indian Wars (1754–1758), Washington was elected in 1758 to the Virginia House of Burgesses. By the 1760s, he had become a vocal critic of Britain’s taxation and mercantilist policies toward the American Colonies. Opposing taxation without representation, Washington joined other revolutionaries in the struggle to overthrow British rule and establish a government based not on monarchy, but on self-rule by its citizens.

During the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), as Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, Washington was essential in securing American independence against formidable British forces. Despite limited resources, inexperienced troops, and initial strategic setbacks, Washington’s resilience, adaptability, and strategic acumen were instrumental in turning the tide of the war. On December 25, 1776, from Philadelphia he launched a daring, surprise attack on Hessian forces in Trenton, New Jersey, defeating them and revitalizing his troops’ morale.

During the war’s eight-year duration, Washington’s perseverance and the Continental Congress’ alliance with the French led to a decisive victory at Yorktown in 1781, effectively ending the war. When, in the aftermath of this success, some suggested he assume monarchical powers, Washington firmly rejected the proposal, famously stating, “I did not fight against King George III to become King George I.” Instead, he resigned his military commission in 1783, reinforcing the principle of civilian governance and paving the way for the American colonies to become a republic rather than a monarchy.

As the first President of the United States, Washington took office on April 30, 1789, leading the development of a new nation founded in contradictions. While the Declaration of Independence proclaimed liberty and equality for all, the US Constitution sanctioned the enslavement of African Americans, and state laws granted voting rights only to white male property owners, disenfranchising women, people of color, and the poor. Under Washington’s leadership, these inequalities became embedded in the nation’s legal and political framework, shaping the struggles for social justice that have continued for generations.

After serving two terms, Washington voluntarily stepped down, resisting calls to remain in office indefinitely. His 1796 Farewell Address underscored his commitment to republican government and set a standard for future leaders. When John Adams (1735 – 1826) assumed the presidency in 1797, it marked the first orderly transition of executive power in American history — a tradition that remains a cornerstone of American democracy.

Within the first year of the new republic, women like Judith Sargent Murray (1751–1820) advocated for women’s rights and equality. Her widely read 1790 essay, On the Equality of the Sexes, challenged the common belief that women were intellectually inferior, thus incapable of participating in political life. Yet the government Washington helped establish did not allow women to vote for another 131 years.

While Washington’s views on slavery evolved as he witnessed the courage of Black soldiers during the Revolutionary War and listened to growing abolitionist sentiment, throughout his lifetime he profited from the labor of more than 500 enslaved individuals who lived and worked at Mount Vernon. Among them was Ona Judge (c. 1773–1848), who courageously escaped in 1796 rather than be forced into continued bondage by the President and First Lady, Martha Washington (1731–1802).

Though in his 1799 will he ordered the freedom of the 123 enslaved people he personally owned — but only upon Martha’s death – the majority of enslaved people at Mount Vernon, Martha’s dower slaves, remained in bondage. Fearing unrest, in 1801, Martha freed Washington’s 123 enslaved workers, while dividing those she enslaved among her heirs.

As we commemorate Washington’s birthday, we acknowledge his contributions to the founding of a new republic in the US based on citizen self-rule, as well as his part in laying within the foundations of the new US government unresolved contradictions – the proclamation of freedom for all while denying it to so many – that have required generations of struggle to move closer to realizing the promise of liberty and equality for all, continuing even into 2025. His legacy is complex, inviting us to reflect on both his leadership and the ongoing work necessary to ensure liberty and justice for all.

February 15 marks the 205th anniversary of Susan B. Anthony’s birth. A pioneer in the fight for women’s rights, Anthony was born to a Quaker family near Adams, Massachusetts, where she worked towards the abolitionist cause from a young age. Deeply influenced by the social justice testimony of her Quaker faith, Anthony served as a teacher and later became a New York State agent for the American Anti-Slavery Association and a staunch proponent of the temperance movement.

As a young woman, Susan B. Anthony noticed a gender pay gap among the staff at the school where she worked. Later in life, she was denied the right to speak at a temperance convention. These experiences motivated her to work for women’s suffrage as a step towards equality.

In the 1850s, Anthony found a new cause worthy of her attention: women’s suffrage. After meeting Elizabeth Cady Stanton at an anti-slavery conference in 1851, the pair joined forces, founding the Women’s New York State Temperance Society in 1852, and the American Equal Rights Association in 1866. By 1869, Anthony and Stanton had founded the National Women’s Suffrage Association.

Anthony worked tirelessly for the right to vote, organizing petition campaigns, lobbying state legislatures, and traveling around the country to give lectures. The motto of the women’s rights newspaper she founded with Stanton, The Revolution, captured the essence of their mission: “Men, their rights, nothing more; women their rights, nothing less.”

While Anthony’s contributions to women’s rights were monumental, it is important to acknowledge the racial limitations of her advocacy. She did not scruple to voice her disdain for the Black suffrage movement. During the 1860s, Anthony opposed the 15th Amendment, which granted Black men the right to vote but did not include women. She famously declared: “I will cut off this right arm of mine before I will ever work for or demand the ballot for the negro and not the woman.”

This led to a split in the women’s rights movement. In 1869, Anthony and Stanton formed the National Woman Suffrage Association, which excluded Black women and opposed suffrage for Black men, while Lucy Stone (1818-1893) led the more inclusive American Woman Suffrage Association. The two groups later merged in 1890 to form the National American Woman Suffrage Association.

By the early 1870s, the movement had gained significant momentum, and its proponents had transitioned to decidedly confrontational tactics in their activism. In 1872, Anthony was arrested, indicted, and tried for casting her ballot in the 1872 election. She was fined $100 but refused to pay, leveraging her trial as an opportunity to argue that denying women the right to vote was unconstitutional. Despite her tireless activism, Anthony never lived to cast a ballot legally. On August 19th, 1920, 14 years after her death, the 19th Amendment was ratified, granting women the right to vote in the United States.

Anthony was arrested in 1872 for voting in the presidential election, arguing that the 14th Amendment granted her that right. She delivered speeches across the United States. In one speech, she said, “Woman must not depend upon the protection of man, but must be taught to protect herself.”

Anthony’s tireless advocacy for women’s rights was bolstered by the tenacity of Black women’s rights activists. From Sojourner Truth to Frances Ellen Watkins Harper and Maria Stewart, Black women were the unsung heroes of the suffrage movement – individuals whose contributions remain overshadowed and underrepresented today.

In our unprecedented era in American history, it is important to reflect on the women who fought valiantly to secure our right to vote. In August, the United States will celebrate the 105th anniversary of women’s suffrage. Today, women’s rights are more vulnerable than ever. Anthony’s legacy serves as a powerful reminder that the fight for equality is lifelong, and freedom – particularly women’s freedom – must be actively defended.

Watch our Stand UP, Speak OUT docuseries to learn more about the history of women’s rights and hear from women who experienced its impact on their lives.

The fight for equality is far from over, and the time to raise our voices is now. As Election Day approaches, critical issues are on the ballot, and your participation is more important than ever.

BC Voices and Lush Cosmetics are teaming up for a special in-store event this Saturday, October 26 at Lush Upper West Side. This is a chance to learn about the history of women’s fight for equality, explore what’s at stake in this election, and discover how you can get involved in shaping the future of women’s rights.

Proposition 1, a key amendment to the state constitution, is on the ballot. This amendment would protect against discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity, while also safeguarding reproductive freedoms. Understanding this proposition and other critical issues is essential before we cast our votes.