Someone was knocking on the schoolhouse door. Prudence Crandall, the headmistress, answered. “Miss Crandall,” the Black woman immediately began, “I want to get a little more learning, enough if possible to teach colored children.”
This bold assertion was spoken by Sarah Fayerweather.
Crandall admitted her to the school. And when the white parents found out, they removed their girls. Yet the little building was about to see more action.
Crandall decided to ONLY accept Black girls to the school. But white terrorists burned the schoolhouse and made it illegal to educate non-citizens of the U.S. Then came the final act to drive home their racist opposition against our people.
Crandall was jailed, which received national attention. She challenged her jailing and the new law that had been set. Her case went all the way to the Supreme Court and it begged the question: Are Black people citizens of the U.S.?
Crandall lost her case, but the precedent had been set. The once little, unassuming school house was now ground zero for our people to become full citizens of this country. We are still in this struggle for our rights today. We must continue to fight for liberation!