Brotherhood of Liberty facts for kids
The Mutual United Brotherhood of Liberty, often called the Brotherhood of Liberty, was an important group formed on June 2, 1885. It started in Baltimore, Maryland. This group worked to end unfair treatment and protect the rights of African American people. They fought against the strict rules of the Jim Crow Era, which kept Black people separate and unequal.
The Brotherhood of Liberty used legal methods to help African Americans. Reverend Harvey Johnson, a pastor at Union Baptist Church, founded the group. Other local pastors like Ananias Brown and William Moncure Alexander also helped start it. They believed Black people should have the right to practice law in Maryland. The Brotherhood also helped create schools for the Black community. They were leaders in helping Black people get better education, stay united, and improve their lives.
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Making Schools Equal
When the Brotherhood started, there was no high school for African American children in Baltimore. Also, there were no African American teachers. Even if Black educators passed the tests, the school board would not hire them. Schools for Black students had only white teachers.
The Brotherhood asked the city council and school leaders to fix this problem. The school board claimed there were not enough African American children in one area for a new school. So, the Brotherhood opened their own school at Shiloh Baptist Church. They enrolled 300 children and hired three teachers.
This convinced the school board. The first new public school for African Americans was then built. It was located at Carrollton and Riggs Avenue. Fannie Barbour became the first African American teacher and George Biddle the first principal. The Brotherhood of Liberty helped create these schools. They made sure Black teachers and principals had what they needed to succeed.
Important Achievements
The Brotherhood of Liberty and its members achieved many great things for the African American community in Maryland.
Breaking Barriers in Law
In 1885, Everett Waring, a member of the Brotherhood, became the first Black lawyer to practice law in Maryland courts. He was the first Black person allowed to join the Court of Appeals bar in 1880. This opened the door for five more Black people from Baltimore. They were allowed to study at the University of Maryland School of Law in 1890.
Opening New Schools
In 1889, William M. Alexander, one of the Brotherhood's original members, opened Public School No. 9. This was the first public school specifically for Black children.
Changing Unfair Laws
In 1888, the Brotherhood celebrated a big victory at Irving Park. They had successfully worked to remove the word "white" from Maryland's law books. This was a step towards making laws fair for everyone.
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