Sarah Harris
127 years before Federal Marshals escorted Ruby Bridges to school; before the Little Rock 9 walked amongst screaming White Americans, there was a young Black girl named Sarah Harris.
In 1833, Sarah asked Prudence Crandall, the White owner of a girl's boarding school, if she would teach her. Sarah said, “I want to get a little more learning, enough if possible to teach colored children.”
In agreeing to enroll Sarah, the towns people removed their kids. To stay afloat, Ms. Crandall turned the school into one for Black girls only...the first of its kind in the U.S., attracting children from out of state.
Town leaders said, “Educating out-of-state Blacks will fill our state with a vicious and poor population”, prompting Connecticut to enact a “Black Law”, prohibiting schools from teaching out of state Blacks without permission. Still refusing to close, Ms. Crandall was jailed and found guilty; the court upheld the “Black Law“ stating while free, Blacks were not citizens, thus had no constitutional protection.
The Prudence Crandall Museum
Concerned for the precedent they would set, the court quashed the case on appeal and Ms. Crandall continued operating. Angered by this, towns people set the school on fire. They also had a mob break in and terrorize the students. Afraid for their safety, Ms. Crandall closed the school in 1834.
This case would be cited in 1857, Dred Scott v. Sandford; also in 1954, Brown v. Board of Ed.
Prudence Crandall deserves high praise for her incredible sacrifice, but my post is about Sarah Harris; who dared ask for an education.
When reflecting on the iconic images of Elizabeth Eckford and Ruby Bridges, let's also remember and recognize Sarah Harris. Lets recognize the historical courage of Black women and celebrate the fear their power evoked.
