She was born into slavery, but that was not Susie King Taylor’s destiny. Due to the tireless efforts of her courageous community, she not only was able to achieve freedom - but to lift others as she climbed. Here’s how.
In 1855 in Georgia, Black education was illegal. But a young Susie was able to attend secret schools taught by daring Black women.
At age 14, her uncle took her and hundreds of other formerly-enslaved refugees to Union Army-controlled St. Simon’s Island. She was free - but knew she had to give back.
Taylor was one of the few people on the island who could read and write. So she taught all of the children, as well as many of the Black Union soldiers. Primarily, she taught them to read - something formerly impossible for most.
She ALSO worked as a self-taught nurse!
Taylor continued her crucial work despite the War danger.
After it was over, she wrote and published a memoir of her experiences during the war - the first and only Black woman to do so!
Susie King Taylor’s remarkable story is one marked by the resilience of a community determined to achieve freedom for all through bravery and cooperation.
If we’re going to get free, we’ve all got to work together. We never know what we’ll be able to achieve!