Benjamin F. Roberts facts for kids

Benjamin F. Roberts (born September 4, 1815 – died September 6, 1881) was an important African-American printer, writer, and activist from Boston, Massachusetts. He was also an abolitionist, meaning he worked to end slavery. Roberts is famous for a court case involving his daughter, Sarah Roberts v. Boston. This case, though lost, helped create the idea of "separate but equal" schools, which meant schools could be separated by race. However, this same case was later used in 1954 to help end segregation in schools with the famous Brown vs. Board of Education case. Even though he lost in court, Roberts successfully brought the issue of school segregation to the state government in 1855.

Who Was Benjamin F. Roberts?

Benjamin F. Roberts was one of 12 children born to Sarah and Robert Roberts in Boston, Massachusetts. He was named after Benjamin Franklin. His family had a long history of activists and writers. His father, Robert Roberts, was a servant who later became a stevedore (someone who loads and unloads ships). In 1827, his father wrote The House Servant's Directory, which was one of the first books by an African American to be published. Benjamin's grandfather on his mother's side, James Easton, protested against segregation in churches as early as 1800.

As a boy, Roberts went to the Good Samaritan School. He was greatly influenced by his grandfather, James, and his uncle, Hosea Easton. Benjamin Roberts started his working life as an apprentice to a shoemaker.

Fighting for Change with Words

Benjamin Roberts sometimes wrote articles for The Liberator, an anti-slavery newspaper. In his writings, he often argued that Black people should be recognized as Americans. He spoke out against groups like the American Colonization Society, which wanted to send African Americans out of the country. Roberts believed that if Black people were included in society and received equal education, it would help fight the idea that they did not belong in America.

In 1838, Roberts married Adeline Fowler. In April of that year, he started his own newspaper called Anti-Slavery Herald. This paper was meant to better share the views of Black writers and their fight against slavery.

A Newspaper for Freedom

The Anti-Slavery Herald used money from subscriptions to offer training for African Americans to learn the printing business. Sadly, no copies of the Anti-Slavery Herald still exist today. However, it was likely seen as a very strong and direct newspaper.

After his newspaper closed, the Roberts family moved to Lynn, Massachusetts. There, Benjamin continued his printing business. He printed the town's first directory in 1841. He also printed other small books and papers. One important book he printed was an expanded version of Light and Truth by African and Native American author Robert Benjamin Lewis.

The Important Case of Sarah Roberts

Benjamin Roberts' most lasting impact might be a lawsuit he filed in 1848. This case, called Sarah Roberts v. Boston, was on behalf of his five-year-old daughter, Sarah. Sarah was going to the segregated Abiel Smith School. However, she tried to attend a white school that was much closer and safer to walk to from her home. This white school also offered a better education. The Smith school was known to be of poor quality, and many people were boycotting it (refusing to send their children there). This lawsuit showed Roberts' strong desire for justice after his newspaper had closed.

Robert Morris, who was the second African American lawyer in the country, filed the case. When the case reached a higher court, Charles Sumner joined as a co-counsel (another lawyer helping with the case). However, Chief Justice Lemuel Shaw of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled against them. He supported the idea of racial segregation in schools. In 1896, this case became the basis for the "separate but equal" rule that came from the Plessy v. Ferguson court decision.

What "Separate But Equal" Meant

The "separate but equal" rule meant that it was legal to have separate facilities (like schools or train cars) for Black and white people, as long as they were supposedly "equal." In reality, these separate facilities were almost never equal, and those for Black people were often much worse. This unfair rule was later overturned in 1954 by the Brown v. Board of Education case, which said that separate schools were not equal.

Later Years and Legacy

In 1853, Roberts tried to publish another newspaper called Self Elevator, but it was not successful.

Benjamin Roberts died on September 6, 1881, when he was 66 years old. He is buried in Mount Auburn Cemetery in Middlesex County. He shares a headstone with his father-in-law, William Fowler.