Recently, I was able to see a performance of Suffs at the CIBC Theatre in Chicago. I would say it exceeded expectations, but I didn’t walk in with any. Although I nearly always enjoy a play, I’m not a regular theatre goer and did not have specific interest in the show. I was in Chicago on vacation, and the group decided to see a show and that was the show. There are many, many reasons why I enjoyed it—talented vocalists, compelling narrative, wonderful pit musicians, but my lack of knowledge on the suffragists themselves was the biggest factor.
Few things in the world are more interesting to me than stumbling across the knowledge gaps that I am unaware of. Sure, there are thousands of things I know almost nothing about, but I’m acutely aware of my ignorance when it comes to most topics. In short, I generally know what I don’t know, and I am filled with a specific type of wonder when I find out I don’t know much about something that I had stored away as something I knew. Before attending the play, I knew almost nothing about women’s voting rights in the US.
How little did I know? Honestly, I was pretty sure the 19th Amendment was the one that righted that specific wrong. I knew Susan B. Anthony was pretty important despite the failure of her dollar coin. Elizabeth Cady Stanton was heavily involved as well. I knew it was remarkably difficult. I knew that it hinged on a telegram. I assumed some sacrifices and risks were probably involved. I knew that, at least on paper, black men were given the right to vote before women. That’s it.
Now I know the severity of the suffering, the real sacrifices made, and the names of the women who got it to the finish line. I know that President Wilson was a reluctant supporter. I know that not all of the women fighting were on the same page. More importantly, I know that I still don’t know very much about it. I can safely shift this one into a known blind spot instead of an unknown one, until I can learn more.
And please, don’t misinterpret this as some failure of the public school system. Sure, I maybe should have been taught more about it. Maybe I was taught a great deal about it and failed to retain it. Regardless, I’m in my forties. My blind spots are my problems to fix these days.