By Macy Grulkowski, 2025/2026 Power in Place Research Collaborator
Nellie Griswold Francis, born in 1874 in Nashville and raised in St. Paul, Minnesota, was a prominent suffragist and advocate for justice, recognizing the interconnectedness of voting rights, safety, dignity, and equality. As the only African American graduate of St. Paul High School in 1891, she defied societal barriers early on. She utilized public speaking, particularly in church, to advocate for inclusion and equality among women, founding the Everywoman Suffrage Club in 1914 to uplift women across racial lines. Francis’s activism extended beyond suffrage to anti-lynching efforts; she made significant strides toward racial justice, exemplified by her advocacy for anti-lynching legislation in Minnesota, leading to a state statute in 1921 amid a surge of racial violence post-World War I. Despite facing personal racism, such as protests against her and her husband's move into a white neighborhood, her courage symbolized her relentless activism. She leveraged diverse platforms—churches, women’s clubs, and media—to address racial discrimination and civil rights, emphasizing collective struggle and solidarity. Francis’s legacy illustrates that voting rights are inherently tied to the broader fight for racial justice and human dignity, as she advocated for a peaceful but strong approach to freedom, ensuring her voice and those of Black women were heard in the democratic process. With Francis recognizing the importance of the relationship between voting rights and equality, she advocated for women, regardless of color, and she strongly felt that everyone should have a say in community issues. Francis campaigned hard for human rights, particularly during the time of lynching. She was effective in putting an end to lynching by pushing Minnesota lawmakers to approve legislation. In today's world, having a figure like Francis is very important. Due to a lack of election security, our country is facing issues that could lead to a decline in voting rights and potential corruption in the polls. The present administration puts US citizenship in serious uncertainty with the SAVE Act. The SAVE act is a proposed federal bill where citizens would have to present documentary proof of U.S. citizenship in person to register to vote in federal elections. This raises questions on whether married individuals who have changed their name will have problems voting since their name technically does not match their birth certificate. Francis would see this as a clear violation of voting rights. Francis’s efforts towards racial violence and accountability are also directly associated with many movements today. Francis’s contributions towards Minnesota's laws are something that needs to be reflected on when it comes to pushing for more laws against police brutality. This has been an issue especially in Minnesota as we experienced the Gorge Floyd protests which sparked nationwide protests. With Francis’s push to stop lynching and our current push towards stopping police brutality there is a clear issue with accountability for figures of power in our communities. The significance of community-based activity and organizing is demonstrated by these problems. Participating in local activities, clubs, organizations, the city council, or your church can help create a more welcoming and inclusive community. When you depend on community resources and address issues like inequality, public safety or education access, which Francis discovered to be crucial, it's a great way to accomplish good community building skills.
References
Nelson, Paul. “Francis, Nellie (1874–1969).” *MNopedia*, Minnesota Historical Society. Last modified April 15, 2025. Accessed October 22, 2025. https://www3.mnhs.org/mnopedia/search/index/person/francis-nellie-1874-1969 Douglas, Leetta M. “Votes for ‘Everywoman’: Nellie Griswold Francis, the Women of Rondo, and Their Suffrage Crusade.” In *Ramsey County History*, vol. 55, no. 2, Summer 2020. Saint Paul: Ramsey County Historical Society. PDF, https://rchs.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/RCHS_Summer-2020_LDouglas.pdf Picture Reference- Nellie Francis, ca. 1924. Image is from Mary Dillon Foster's Who’s Who Among Minnesota Women (1924), 111.
Macy Grulkowski is a rising senior majoring in political science and minoring in global studies and sustainability. She finds passion in advocating for many community issues where she also finds passion on campus as president of TRIO student leaders to help first generation students, students who have disability, or students who receive federal funding for tuition.