Naomi Anderson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Naomi Bowman Talbert Anderson
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| Born |
Naomi Bowman
March 1, 1843 Michigan City, Indiana
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| Died | June 9, 1899 |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Suffragist, Civil Rights Activist, Temperance Leader |
Naomi Bowman Talbert Anderson (March 1, 1843 – June 9, 1899) was an important African American leader. She worked for equal rights for everyone. Naomi was a suffragist, meaning she fought for women's right to vote. She was also a temperance leader, promoting a life free from alcohol. As a civil rights activist, she worked for fair treatment for all races. Naomi was also a writer and speaker. She wrote poems and gave speeches about the challenges faced by African American women. Many other leaders praised her work.
Naomi's Early Life and Learning
Naomi Anderson was born in Michigan City, Indiana. Her parents, Elijah and Guilly Ann Bowman, were free African Americans. At that time, there were only two Black families in Michigan City. Naomi could not go to the local public schools because they were segregated. This meant Black and white students were kept separate.
Her mother hired a private tutor for Naomi. This helped Naomi develop her writing skills. When the white community in Michigan City saw how talented she was at poetry, they allowed her to attend a school that was previously only for white students. She was 12 years old then. Sadly, her mother passed away in 1860. After that, her father did not focus as much on her education. This meant Naomi could not go to college.
Family Life and Moving Around
When Naomi was 20, she married William Talbert. He was a barber from Valparaiso, Indiana. Soon after, she returned to Michigan City to bury her only sister. She also buried her first son there. Her brother had died earlier while serving in the Union Army.
In 1868, Naomi moved to Chicago with her husband, son, and father. This is where she began her important work as an activist. After giving many speeches, she moved with her family to Dayton, Ohio. She then lived in Cincinnati, Ohio. When her husband's health became poor, Naomi learned how to style hair. She moved her family to Portsmouth, Ohio, and worked to support them.
In Portsmouth, she helped start a home for children. She managed the home for four months. However, she left because the pay was low and she had family duties. She later became a teacher. Her husband passed away in 1877.
In 1879, she moved to Columbus, Ohio. There, she grew her hair-dressing business. She married her second husband, Lewis Anderson, in 1881. They moved to a farm near Columbus. Later, in 1884, she moved to Wichita, Kansas. Her husband became a successful banker there.
Fighting for Women's Rights and Equality
Naomi was very active in her community. She volunteered with groups like the International Organization of Grand Templars. She also joined the Women's Christian Temperance Union. These groups worked to encourage people to avoid alcohol.
Soon, Naomi began speaking about women's right to vote. She gave her first speech at the Woman's Rights Convention in 1869. That same year, she traveled through Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio, giving many lectures. From 1869 through the 1870s, she wrote articles for newspapers. These included the Chicago Tribune and the Dayton Journal. Her articles were about women, Christianity, and temperance.
In 1876, she wrote a poem for the United States Centennial. This poem showed her strong Christian faith. It also thanked the leaders who helped end slavery. She hoped that African Americans would serve their country. She also wished for them to get good education. She wanted them to "bring our latent talents up / On level with mankind." This meant she wanted everyone to have a chance to show their skills.
When Naomi moved to Wichita, Kansas, she was known as a speaker and poet. She was also a strong supporter of women's rights. She found that a children's home organized by white women would not accept children of color. So, Naomi brought together a group of women of color. They organized their own "home of their own" for children.
In the 1890s, Naomi lived in San Francisco. She worked with white suffragists there. They campaigned for one of the first state-level votes on women's suffrage. Famous activists like Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton praised Naomi's work. Naomi often spoke to men who had been enslaved. She asked them to understand that African American women were still not truly free until they could vote.
