Maritcha Remond Lyons facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Maritcha Remond Lyons
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Maritcha Remond Lyons
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| Born | June 23, 1848 |
| Died | January 28, 1929 (aged 80) |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | American educator Civic leader Writer |
| Years active | 1892–1929 |
Maritcha Remond Lyons (born May 23, 1848 – died January 28, 1929) was an important American educator, leader, and speaker. She lived and worked in New York City and Brooklyn.
Maritcha taught in public schools in Brooklyn for 48 years. She was the second Black woman to become an assistant principal in the school system. In 1892, Lyons helped start the Women's Loyal Union of New York and Brooklyn. This was one of the first groups in the United States to fight for women's rights and racial fairness. This group helped pay for a key pamphlet by Ida B. Wells called "Southern Horrors." This pamphlet spoke out against unfair violence.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Maritcha Lyons was born in New York City. She was the third of five children of Albro Lyons Sr. and Mary Joseph Lyons. Her father went to the first African Free School in Manhattan.
The Lyons family lived in a community of free Black people in New York City. They were active members of their church. Maritcha's parents ran a home and store for sailors. This business also secretly helped people escape slavery through the Underground Railroad.
Even though she was often sick as a child, Maritcha loved learning. She once wrote that she developed "a love of study for study’s sake." She went to Colored School No. 6 in Manhattan. Her teacher was Charles L. Reason, who was a well-known educator.
Facing Challenges
In July 1863, when Maritcha was a teenager, her family's home was attacked. This happened during the New York City draft riots. These riots were a dangerous time when mobs attacked homes, especially those of Black families.
Maritcha and her family had to flee to Salem, Massachusetts, for a short time. Later, her parents sent the children to Providence, Rhode Island, for safety.
In 1865, Maritcha was not allowed into the high school in Providence. This was because she was African-American. At that time, there was no high school for Black children in the state. Her family fought against this unfair rule. They successfully sued the state of Rhode Island to end segregated schools.
When she was 16, Maritcha spoke to the state government. She asked them to "open the door of opportunity" for Black students. Later, Maritcha Lyons became the first African-American student to graduate from Providence High School.
Career and Activism
Teaching Career
After finishing high school, Maritcha returned to New York. She became a teacher at Brooklyn's Colored School No. 1. This was the first school for African Americans in the Fort Greene area of Brooklyn.
Maritcha taught for almost 50 years. She focused on elementary education, helping young students learn. By the end of her career, she was the assistant principal of Public School No. 83. This was the first school in Brooklyn that allowed students of all races to learn together.
Maritcha was also a well-known speaker. She once won a debate against Ida B. Wells, another famous activist. Wells later said that Lyons taught her how to be a better public speaker.
Fighting for Rights
Maritcha Lyons was a strong activist. On October 5, 1892, she and fellow educator Victoria Earle Matthews organized a special dinner. This event honored Ida B. Wells and her work against unfair violence.
In February 1892, Lyons and Matthews started the Women’s Loyal Union of New York and Brooklyn. This group worked to support women's rights and fight for racial justice.
Lyons also fought for women's right to vote. She was a member of the Colored Women's Equal Suffrage League of Brooklyn.
Writing and Memoir
Maritcha Lyons wrote a memoir about her life. A memoir is a type of autobiography. Her memoir was never officially published. However, it included a powerful story about her family's home being attacked during the 1863 New York City draft riots. These riots caused many Black families to leave Manhattan for safer places like Brooklyn.
Her memoir, called Memories of Yesterdays: All of Which I Saw and Part of Which I Was (1928), also described how her family helped people escape slavery.
A book for young adults, Maritcha: A Remarkable Nineteenth-Century Girl, was written based on her memoir.
Lyons also wrote about other important women. She contributed eight short biographies to a book called Homespun Heroines and Other Women of Distinction (1926).
Legacy
Maritcha Lyons lived in Brooklyn with her brother and his family until she passed away.
The Lyons Community School in the Bedford–Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York was named in her honor.
Works and Publications
- Bolden, Tonya. Maritcha: A Remarkable Nineteenth-Century Girl. New York: Harry N. Abrams, 2004.
- Lyons, Maritcha Redmond. "Sarah H. Fayerweather," "Agnes J. Adams," and 6 others. Brown, Hallie Q. Homespun Heroines and Other Women of Distinction. Chapel Hill, N.C.: Academic Affairs Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2000.
See also
