Frances "Fannie" Barrier Williams was an African American suffragist, civil rights activist, and educator in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. She was born February 12, 1855 in Brockport, New York. Growing up, her family was one of the only Black families in her community. Despite this, Williams and her family didn't experience much discrimination or racism as her village was not segregated. Williams received her education from her local public school, then became the first Black graduate of the Brockport State Normal School (now State University of New York, Brockport). With her degree, she moved south to teach freed Black children. During this time, she had her first experience with blatant racial discrimination. She eventually returned to the North (specifically Washington, D.C.) to continue her education. While there, she met the man who would become her husband, S. Laing Williams.
The Williams moved to Illinois, and her work as an activist began. Williams worked tirelessly to ensure that her voice was heard and that African American women had the right to vote. She was a contributor to the Hyde Park Colored Voters Republican Club. She offered talks on the value of suffrage for Black women as part of her work with the Illinois Women's League. She helped found the Provident Hospital, an organization to open doors for Black medical professionals and nurses. Williams also contributed to the establishment of the National League of Colored Women in 1893 with the goal of promoting greater access for Black women to services such as banks, childcare centers, schools, and other financial institutions. Just three years later, she was a founding member of the National Association of Colored Women, and worked to improve the lives of African American women in all aspects of life.
Williams was a passionate advocate for women's rights, and she used her platform to speak out against discrimination and racism. She spoke to the Departmental Congress of the National Association of Loyal Women of American Liberty at the World's Congress of Representative Women about the struggles of African American women in trying to find employment. That same year, she spoke about racial inequalities in the church and the importance of organized religion to improve communities. She also wrote extensively on the importance of education and economic opportunities for African American women and girls. Williams was a vocal critic of Jim Crow laws and was a delegate to the International Council of Women, where she spoke out for racial equality.
Williams' work in the suffrage movement is still important today. Her commitment to creating a more just and equitable society is an example of what can be achieved when individuals stand up for what is right.
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Find more information about Williams and other historical leaders in the Black Women's Suffrage Movement, provided by the Digital Public Library of America (DPLA).
