(1847-1958) Richmond, Virginia

Armita Harris Douglas, the second of eight children, was born in 1874 in Richmond, Virginia to John Benjamin Harris, and his wife Sarah. Growing up, Armita and her family joined the great migration and moved north in the 1890s to settle in Philadelphia. Armita later moved to Newark, New Jersey where she met Howard University graduate and second black person to be admitted to the New Jersey bar, George Anderson Douglas. Douglas was the first African American lawyer to appear before the New Jersey Supreme Court. The two got married on June 20th, 1899. Armita Harris Douglas, the second of eight children, was born in 1874 in Richmond, Virginia to John Benjamin Harris, and his wife Sarah. Growing up, Armita and her family joined the great migration and moved north in the 1890s to settle in Philadelphia. Armita later moved to Newark, New Jersey where she met Howard University graduate and second black person to be admitted to the New Jersey bar, George Anderson Douglas. Douglas was the first African American lawyer to appear before the New Jersey Supreme Court. The two got married on June 20th, 1899.

Whilst living in New Jersey, Armita became a very strong political activist and suffragist. She was part of the organization NAACP, the Urban League, and the New Jersey Federation of Colored Women's Clubs (NJFCWC).

As a suffragist, Armita greatly encouraged women to continue in the fight for their voting right after the women's suffrage referendum was rejected in October 1915. In 1917, white suffragists in the New Jersey Woman Suffrage Association (NJWSA), who were not getting along with suffragists in the NJFCWC came together to organize a committee to advocate for the ratification of the 19th Amendment. Armita, together with members of the NJFCWC joined in the campaign and rallies around the state until the New Jersey Assembly ratified the 19th Amendment in January 1920.

Moving forward, Armita became active in the New Jersey League of Women Voters and encouraged her fellow African American women to become politically involved in their communities. In the 1920s and 30s, Armita joined in with Amelia Moorfield, a white woman, suffragist, and a member of the Newark Interracial Committee.

Following the death of her husband in 1935, Armita moved to Belleville, New Jersey to stay with her daughter, Beatrice Collins. Later, she moved to Montclair where she passed away on December 9, 1958. Armita was buried in Glendale Cemetery, Bloomfield, New Jersey.

Why I Chose This Person

"I am Richard Arthur Quansah and I chose Armita Harris Douglas because I found no picture to show the face of the woman who aided in a great cause. I believe that regardless of not knowing her face, her contribution must be made known to the world.”