Sarah Lee Brown Fleming facts for kids

Sarah Lee Brown Fleming (born January 10, 1876 – died January 5, 1963) was an amazing American woman. She was a teacher, a community helper, a writer of plays, poems, and novels. She made history by becoming the very first African-American teacher in the Brooklyn school system.

Her most famous books are the novel Hope's Highway (published in 1918) and a collection of poems called Clouds and Sunshine (published in 1920).

Sarah was born in Charleston, South Carolina. She grew up in Brooklyn, New York. From a young age, she dreamed of becoming a teacher. However, her father believed that the only job she could get was working in someone's home. Even with her parents' worries, she followed her dream. She proudly became the first Black schoolteacher in Brooklyn.

Her Life and Family

On November 5, 1902, Sarah married Richard Stedman Fleming. He was also a pioneer! Richard was the first African-American dentist in Connecticut. They had two children, a daughter named Dorothy (born in 1903) and a son named Harold (born in 1906).

Helping Her Community

Sarah Fleming achieved many great things throughout her life. She was very active in her community. In 1929, she started the New Haven's Women’s Civic League. This group helped women get involved in their community.

In 1936, she founded the Phillis Wheatley Home for Girls. This home was a special place that offered shelter to young Black women. These young women often came to New Haven looking for work. Sarah helped them find a safe place to stay and get started.

Her hard work was recognized by many. In 1955, she was honored by the United States Congress for all her contributions to the community. In that same year, she also received the Sojourner Truth Scroll. This award is given every year by the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Club.

Sarah also worked with Mary McLeod Bethune. Mary McLeod Bethune was a very important leader in education. Sarah was dedicated to helping African-American girls and women succeed. She also supported women's right to vote, which is known as being a suffragist.

Her Creative Works

Even though Sarah Fleming was a talented artist, she is mostly remembered for her community work. Many of the songs, short plays, and musicals she wrote were never published.

Her two most well-known books are Hope’s Highway and Clouds and Sunshine.

Hope's Highway

Hope's Highway is a novel that speaks out against slavery. It calls for people of all races to live together peacefully. It also stresses the importance of education for everyone. The book suggests that educated African Americans should lead their community forward. In this novel, Fleming writes about important topics like religion, social class, race, and gender.

Clouds and Sunshine

Clouds and Sunshine is a book filled with Sarah Fleming's poems. These poems show her strong political beliefs. The book is divided into three parts. Each part has different kinds of poems: general poems, poems written in a specific dialect, and poems about race. Her writings show her strong will and her positive outlook on improving the lives of African Americans.

Her Passing

Sarah Lee Brown Fleming passed away just five days before her 87th birthday.