The Liberian Women's Social and Political Movement was a Liberian women's organization founded by Sarah Simpson-George in 1946.

History

Sarah Simpson-George was a Liberian educator. She was the sister of

Clarence Lorenzo Simpson Clarence Lorenzo Simpson Sr. (1896–1969) was a Liberian politician who served as the 22nd vice president and the speaker of the House of Representatives. He served also as Secretary of State during much of World War II (1934–1943) under Pre ...

William Tubman William Vacanarat Shadrach Tubman (29 November 1895 – 23 July 1971) was a Liberian politician. He was the 19th president of Liberia and the longest-serving president in the country's history, serving from his election in 1944 until his dea ...

's (19th

President of Liberia The president of the Republic of Liberia is the head of state and government of Liberia. The president serves as the leader of the executive branch and as commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Liberia. Prior to the independence of Liber ...

) first vice president, and the wife of Samuel D. George, MP for

Montserrado County Montserrado County is a county in the northwestern portion of the West African nation of Liberia containing its national capital, Monrovia. One of 15 counties that comprise the first-level of administrative division in the nation, it has 17 sub p ...

. Encouraged by visiting the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

for a

NCNW The National Council of Negro Women, Inc. (NCNW) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1935 with the mission to advance the opportunities and the quality of life for African-American women, their families, and communities. Mary McLeod Bethune, ...

Wartime Workshop in 1944, she published 'An Open Letter to the Women of Liberia' in Monrovia's ''Weekly Mirror'' newspaper on her return, and founded the Liberian Women's Social and Political Movement in 1946. The Movement announced its purpose as follows: The Liberian Women's Social and Political Movement took part in that year's NCNW annual convention, sending Mary McCritty Fiske as official delegate. In the years that followed it pressed for women to be allowed to serve on juries, which was achieved in 1949, and to be elected to public office, which was achieved in a 1951 constitutional amendment. Papers relating to the Liberian Women's Social and Political Movement survive among the William V. S. Tubman papers and have been digitized.

References

{{reflist Organizations established in 1946 Women's organizations based in Liberia Organizations based in Liberia 1946 in Liberia Women's rights in Liberia