Ida B. Wells (Nikki M. James) confronts Alice Paul (Shaina Taub) for her concessions to southern suffragists and her refusal to let Black women march along with their state delegates in their march on Washington.
Book, Music, and Lyrics by Shaina Taub.
♪I think we all must do whatever it takes ♪ ♪ For the march to go on♪ ♪ Even if that means waiting your turn♪ ♪ Wait my turn ♪ ♪ When will you white women ever lean♪ ♪ I had the same old talk♪ ♪ With Carrie Chapman Catt ♪ ♪ Twenty years ago ♪ ♪ I thought you might be better but you still dont know♪ ♪ You want me to wait my turn?
♪ ♪ To simply put my sex before my race ♪ ♪ Oh!
Why dont I leave my skin at home ♪ ♪ And powder up my face?
♪ ♪ Guess who always waits her turn?
♪ ♪ Who always ends up in the back?
♪ ♪ Us lucky ones born both female and Black ♪ ♪ Wait my turn?
♪ ♪ Well, I sure dont see you waiting yours ♪ No ♪ Youre preaching ‘We demand it now ♪ ♪ While knocking down locked doors ♪ ♪ But you want me to wait my turn ♪ ♪ So you dont offend your southern base ♪ ♪ Since when does a radical roll over for bigots ♪ ♪ In the first place ♪ ♪ Thats not leadership, Alice ♪ ♪ Its cowardice ♪ ♪ I hear your quote Frederick Douglass on your soapbox ♪ ♪ Intending to include and impress us ♪ ♪ But in the press you play down our involvement ♪ ♪ And here behind closed doors you attempt to supress us ♪ ♪ Deeds not words ♪ ♪ Says the button on your jacket ♪ ♪ Im so sick of rhetoric with no action to back it ♪ ♪ If you dont have the spine to stand with us now ♪ ♪ What will it take?
♪ ♪ You do have a choice ♪ ♪ Theres always a choice ♪ ♪ Which one will you make?
♪ ♪ Dont you dare tell me to wait my turn ♪ ♪ In truth its not your call ♪ ♪ Either I march with my own state delegates ♪ ♪ Or I dont march at all ♪ ♪ Im not here to soothe your guilt ♪ ♪ That is none of my concern ♪ ♪ I wont beg for your approval ♪ Which I shouldnt have to earn ♪ ♪ So no matter what you tell me ♪ ♪ I will not wait one more minute ♪ ♪ For my turn ♪
