Here & Now

Milwaukee Congresswoman Gwen Moore on Women’s Suffrage

Frederica Freyberg:

This election year takes on special significance during the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage in the U.S. Wisconsin led the way for a woman’s right to vote by being the first state to ratify the 19th Amendment in 1919. Next Thursday night, August 13th, tune in for “Wisconsin Women Vote: A ‘Here & Now’ Special.” The program features the thoughts of some of Wisconsin’s leading women in politics, including Milwaukee Congresswoman Gwen Moore. Here’s a preview.

Gwen Moore:

That’s awesome. When are we rolling this out?

Frederica Freyberg:

Another first in Wisconsin brings us to U.S. Representative Gwen Moore of Milwaukee. In 2004, she became Wisconsin’s first African-American woman elected to Congress.

Gwen Moore:

You know what they always say, if you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu. And so often, women’s rights are on the menu. And I think it’s because we have what 17%, 18% representation in Congress, in legislative bodies. And we need to up that number so that there’s never a question.

Frederica Freyberg:

When you were first elected to office, did you feel as though you belonged?

Gwen Moore:

Oh, my god, Frederica. When I first got there, my first instinct was to sort of pretend I was a man, you know. Was to — you know, I am not going to be stereotyped as a woman. I’m going to get in there and show them I’m just as good as the old boys. And that lasted about a day before I started seeing all the initiatives come down that were disquieting policies for women and children. And so that resolve slipped away right away. I had to be a woman.

Frederica Freyberg:

And do you feel —

Gwen Moore:

And I had to be a Black woman.

In the coming weeks, get to know the candidates and issues in the 2020 election by visiting WisconsinVote.org.