Lily Ann Granderson facts for kids

Lily Ann Granderson (1816-1889) was an amazing American teacher. She was born in Virginia in 1816, at a time when many people were forced to work without pay and were not free. Lily Ann was one of these people, known as an enslaved person. She became a brave educator who taught other enslaved people how to read and write, even though it was against the law. Her work also helped start what is now Jackson State University.

Her Early Life

Lily Ann Granderson's grandmother was a free woman of Native American heritage. After her grandmother passed away, Lily Ann's mother was sadly sold into slavery when she was only three years old. We don't know much about Lily Ann's father, except that he was a white man from a well-known family in Virginia.

Later, after Lily Ann was born, her mother moved to Kentucky. There, Lily Ann began working as a house servant. She became close with the master's family. The children of the house even taught her how to read and write. This was a clever way some enslaved people learned to read, even when it was forbidden.

When her master died, Lily Ann was sent to Mississippi. There, she was sold to another slave master. On this large farm, called a plantation, Lily Ann had to work in the fields. This hard work made her very sick. She asked to be moved from the fields to a job that wouldn't harm her health so much. Her slave master agreed, and she began working in the kitchen at his home.

The master's home was not on the plantation, but in town. This meant Lily Ann had to travel into town every day. It was during these trips that she bravely started her secret school for enslaved children.

Her Contributions and Important Work

Lily Ann Granderson used her daily trips into town to begin her school for enslaved people. At that time in Mississippi, it was against the law to teach enslaved people to read or write. People in power feared that educated enslaved people might rebel or try to escape.

To get around this strict law, Lily Ann held her classes late at night. Enslaved children would sneak out to attend her lessons. She kept her class small, teaching only twelve children at a time. Once these children learned to read and write, they "graduated." This made space for twelve new students to join. Lily Ann ran this secret school for about seven years without being caught.

Eventually, word spread about her late-night classes. However, there was no punishment for Lily Ann's actions. Even though there was a law against educating enslaved people, there was a special part of the law that helped Lily Ann. The law said that white people and free Black people could not teach enslaved people. But it did not forbid one enslaved person from teaching another!

Because of this, Lily Ann was able to continue her work. She even opened another school, called a Sabbath school, in addition to her night classes. Through her amazing efforts, hundreds of students learned to read and write. Many of them used their new skills to gain their freedom.

Lily Ann Granderson is also recognized for greatly influencing the creation of what is now Jackson State University. It was once known as Natchez Seminary. When she was 54 years old, she became one of the first African Americans to open a bank account at the Freedman's Bank.

Her Personal Life

Lily Ann Granderson was married to Oliver Granderson. They had two children together. She passed away in 1889 and was buried in Natchez City Cemetery.