To Mary Church Terrell

Dear Mary Church Terrell,

I loved your empowering and inspiring words in your presidential address—you were a truly remarkable leader. Your organization and message has given me so much to think about and so many questions about the culture and context of the time.

As someone living in a different era with a different background, I know I will never have a full understanding of all the complexities surrounding black female sexuality and all of the horrible tragedies that are a part of history. It seems especially sad that once there is a sliver of hope that African American women might finally have a voice through your organization, they must primarily concern themselves with trying to erase negative stereotypes of black female sexuality, and they must first focus on protecting themselves against rape. I was wondering—if white society had not shifted its view of sexuality from a more open view in the Renaissance to the moral purity of the Victorian era—how do you think the mission of your organization would be different? I know that even with a more open attitude toward sexuality, black women would sadly still endure rape and other atrocities, but do you think African American women would have been viewed more positively? If you could eliminate the negative stereotypes toward black female sexuality, what would you most want the NACW to achieve? In the desire to positively depict African American womanhood so as to change stereotypes, do you think anything was lost? I understand you probably realized that you could incite the greatest change if you conformed to the values of the time, but if you didn’t have to worry about conforming, what would you want African American women to value and be like?

Thank you so much for all of your revolutionary work and your amazing leadership. I greatly respect and admire you and your perseverance.

Sincerely,

Eliza Van Wye