Introduce students to the important role that women played in the U.N.I.A. that served as a distinguishing characteristics from other organizations of that time:

Throughout the history of the U.N.I.A., women powerfully resisted marginalization. Despite the relative lack of subsequent scholarship on female leaders, organizations and accomplishments it is known that each local division of the U.N.I.A had both a Lady President and Male President, though these differed by region in power distribution. Additionally, we know that three of the six directors in 1918 were women.

The group should ideally be given a class period to research their assigned/selected Woman of the U.N.I.A. using the internet or provided resources:

• Amy Ashford-co-founder of  the U.N.I.A. 
• Amy Jaques-a key leader within the U.N.I.A. and as associate editor in The Negro World newspaper. 
• Known Directors and Division Leaders of the U.N.I.A.
  • Adelaide Casely-Hayford
  • Henrietta Vinton Davis
  • Maymie Lena Turpeau De Mena

After completing their research, students should create a poster, presentation or written summary to present their answers to the following questions:

• What societal challenges did this woman face during this time ?
• How and why was this woman important to the U.N.I.A.?
• How did colorism, gender and/or sexism impact her role in the U.N.I.A.?

Resources accessible for student’s usage may include the following sources.