Born: January 1872 (Virginia)
Irene Moorman Blackstone (January 1872 after 1944) was an African-American businesswoman and club member who became active in the fight for women’s suffrage. Along with Alva Belmont, she initiated the interracial cooperation of women in the drive for enfranchisement. When the 19th Amendment passed, she turned her activism toward the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) and other programs which worked to uplift the black community and prevent the exclusion of and discrimination against blacks in attaining socio-economic and political equality.
Early Life:
Irene L. Moorman was born in January 1872 in Virginia. Her mother, Johanna Moorman, was a former slave who had been born in Virginia and then moved to Washington, D.C. during her childhood. Johanna later returned to Virginia, where she gave birth to 18 children before bringing Irene and her brother Wilson to New Jersey.
Career:
Despite being a gifted singer, Moorman did not pursue music professionally and instead focused on business development. Around 1895, she began her career as a sub-agent in the brokerage business. After four years, she started working at the Metropolitan Mercantile and Realty Company, where she supervised the firm’s operations in Brooklyn.
Moorman was also actively involved in various organizations and clubs. She served on the board of the National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs and was an active member of the women’s auxiliary of the Negro Business League of New York. In 1906, she founded the Metropolitan Business Woman’s Club of Brooklyn with the aim of securing funds to erect a building that could be used for organizational meetings of black businesses and associations. Her efforts received endorsements from several prominent African-American activists, including Dr. M. Cravath Simpson and Mary Church Terrell.
After collecting sufficient funds, Moorman secured a building and outfitted three rooms, as well as a business office. In 1909, she incorporated the Moorman-Harper Company to manage the hall. However, her actions brought conflict from members of the Metropolitan Club who alleged that she had taken over the project for which they had raised the funds. Judgments were brought against her, and as a result, Moorman began operating as a newsdealer.
In 1910, Moorman took up the cause of suffrage in response to Alva Belmont’s call to join her Political Equality League. She became a regular speaker on women’s suffrage and strengthened her image as an active clubwoman and well-known socialist.
On November 24 or 28, 1911, Moorman married James H. Blackston, a farmer and minister of the Negro Baptist Church, in Brooklyn. However, the couple separated in May 1912, and Blackston faced financial challenges during their separation. Moorman was investigated for alleged fraud when she attempted to secure assistance through the mail system. Despite the difficulties, she remained committed to her activism.
Influence and Legacy:
Irene Moorman Blackstone played a significant role in the fight for women’s suffrage and in uplifting the black community. Her collaboration with Alva Belmont in promoting interracial cooperation among women for enfranchisement was a groundbreaking step towards social change. After the 19th Amendment was passed, Moorman focused her energy on the Universal Negro Improvement Association and other programs that aimed to uplift the black community and combat discrimination.