The coalition of women has roots that reach back through more than a century of American history. In the decades before the Civil War, women spoke out against men on the issue of slavery, and this served a new breed of brilliant and aggressive women who found themselves talking about female as well as black rights and who recognized that white women are part of the same system that exploits black slaves. The anti-slavery movement reached a dramatic schism on the issue of female participation beyond society's accustomed roles. As long as the tales of bondage were confined to the drawing rooms of the committed, women were greeted by friendly faces, but were attacked after the announcement of a public lecture tour. Anti-abolitionist papers focus on this tour suggesting that foes of slavery intend to bring anarchy to the U.S. and are letting women get out of hand. These incidents relating to women's participation in the anti-slavery movement hurtled women toward developing their own organizations. The modern struggle for women's rights also has important roots in the Southern black freedom drive in the 1960's. In the process of supporting the black drive for equality, women have learned something about their oppression. Today, Afro-Americans and women encounter the same arguments, fight the same enemies, and often make unified counter attacks despite differences in their movements. (Author/AM)