Hosea Easton was young when he learned the power of activism. There was a “negro porch” at the back of his childhood church – but his parents refused to sit there! They instead sat at the front of the church with all the white people, until they were physically removed. His family's sit-ins were some of the very first in the country!
Easton would grow to become a minister himself and lead the church. Not only would he speak of spiritual uplift in his sermons, he was also very adamant about abolition – often calling out racism and slavery from the pulpit.
The rise of segregation in education hindered Black children from going to school, so Easton opened up one of the first schools for children of color.
White people got so angry they burned his church down!
The flames ignited the anger in Easton. A few months before his death, he published a powerful treatise. In it, he called white people barbarians then and historically, and argued that African people taught them everything they knew!
No matter what you do, white supremacy will try to tear down Black progress. Easton fought back every time. We have come this far because of brave ancestors like him, and we must continue challenging the system with his bravery in our hearts.