“I made most of my money running this saloon. And most of that came from the gambling, so you’ll have to take my word when I say a thing or two about taking a chance.”

Edward Shaw finished pouring the whiskey and slid the tumbler across to the Republican Party official across from him. It was too early for the bar to be open, and this wasn’t a friendly meeting.

“They say if you’re poor, you’ve got nothing to lose.” Shaw poured himself one, and immediately downed it. “I say if you’re rich, you can afford to take a bigger risk than the people with nothing, and that’s what I aim to do.”

The party official pushed the proffered drink away with a frown.

“You still won’t beat him, Shaw. Not even if you got every negro in the whole state to vote for you.”

Shaw took the drink for himself, hissing through his teeth at the alcohol burn.

“You’re probably right. But you’ll lose, and you’ll spend the rest of the term stinging from that loss. And you know what? I bet next time the you won’t take us for granted and nominate a racist son of a bitch.”

Memphis Note
Edward Shaw was a freed slave that became one of Memphis’s first advocates of racial equality. He made his money running a saloon and gambling hall, but used that money to start a newspaper and become a lawyer. He was the city’s first black wharf master, and a key ally of the local Republican Party. Which he proved to them in an election by splitting the vote against them because they ran an avowed racist.

She stands in the entry hall, fussing over her skirts, trying to get everything to lay just right.

“Going somewhere?” Her husband asks as he walks through the parlor, eyes glued to the folded newspaper in his hand.

“To the theatre.” She replies casually, satisfied with her appearance.

“Ah, yes, of course. Have a lovely time.” He says, not missing a beat.

She begins to count, and gets to three before she hears him say her name.

“Lizzy…you do realize it is light out still. Midday, in fact.”

“Yes, dear.” She turns around. He is squinting at her.

“And you’re wearing that red dress. Your ‘I’m a firebrand’ dress. Just where are you going?” He steps closer to her.

“To the theatre. To give a speech, for women’s suffrage.”

His brows arch at this answer.

“This is going to be another one of your things, isn’t it? Like with those women teachers a few years back.”

She gives him a sweet smile. “They were destitute, dear. Some one had to do something. And, yes, I do believe so.”

“Ah, well then. Good luck, my love.” He plants a quick kiss on her cheek. “Just don’t forget to wear your hat.”

Memphis Note
Elizabeth Avery Meriwether was one of Memphis’s earliest and most active women’s suffrage advocates. She championed equal rights and pay for women teachers, illegally cast votes in national elections and published a pro-suffrage news letter called The Tablet. In 1876, she booked the Memphis Theatre to give a public speech about women’s suffrage, attended by over 500 women. She died a few shorts years of seeing her dreams realized.