Esther Burgess facts for kids

Esther Julia Burgess (born in 1911, died in 2004) was a brave activist who worked for equal rights. She was part of the Civil Rights Movement, which fought against unfair treatment of people based on their race. Esther was married to Reverend John Melville Burgess. He was the first Black bishop in the American Episcopal Church.

Fighting for Equal Rights

The St. Augustine Sit-in Protest

In March 1964, Mrs. Burgess traveled from her home in Newton, Massachusetts. She went to St. Augustine, Florida. She was part of a group of church members, both white and Black. They were inspired by Reverend Martin Luther King Jr.

Esther Burgess joined a peaceful "sit-in" protest. This protest was against segregation. Segregation meant keeping people of different races separate, like in restaurants or schools. Mrs. Burgess sat in a restaurant at the Ponce de Léon Motor Lodge. She was with other ministers' wives, including Mary Peabody. Mary Peabody was the mother of the Governor of Massachusetts at the time.

They were also joined by Dr. Robert B. Hayling. He was a Black dentist and a local leader. Dr. Hayling had learned about peaceful protest methods. Esther Burgess was arrested during the sit-in. She went to jail with Dr. Hayling. The next day, Mary Peabody also returned to the restaurant. She was arrested too and spent two nights in jail.

The news about these arrests spread widely. It helped people understand how unfair segregation was. The protests in St. Augustine were very important. They helped lead to the Civil Rights Act. This important law was passed just three months later. It made segregation illegal.

About Esther Burgess

Esther Taylor was born in New Brunswick, Canada. She was one of five children. Her father was a farmer. Esther graduated with high honors from Fredericton High School. She worked as a stenographer, which is someone who types notes. In 1943, she left Canada. She went to attend St. Augustine College in Raleigh, North Carolina.