"Six out of thirteen," she replied automatically. Of course, she knew the answer when so many of those women served as her role models. Well, sort of. Many of them had been questionable people and none had been elected since 1855 which clearly meant they were going backwards but what Jessamine didn't know wouldn't kill her. But they'd held positions of power and were obviously female so clearly she aspired to be like them but better. Still, she felt a twinge of guilt when Minnie mentioned Miss Whitledge. Surely if she advertised herself as a feminist she should be backing the only female candidate. but frankly, she didn't think Miss Whitledge had what it took. She was barely old enough to run, had little to no support in the form of allies, and had little to no experience in politics. While Wright might have not had a ministry position, he had over a decade of experience in civil rights. "Safe doesn't make progress."

"I don't want to be known as pretty, Miss Parkinson. I want to be known as intelligent, ambitious, and responsible. I want to be invited to academic salons, not balls. And I'm not becoming a debutante. I'm entering a career in the ministry. I don't need someone else to make me happy or complete. I am perfectly capable of doing so on my own. I have wanted this since I was small and two more years will not change this fact."

"Progress does not occur without passion, and what is anger but passion? If they won't listen to us when we are demure and soft then we will be loud and present. And maybe... maybe we won't ever be treated the same, but it isn't just for us. It is for my sisters and nieces. It is for your children. The same way the women before us fought for things like our access to education."