Susan Paul facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Susan Paul
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Susan Paul
1809 |
| Died | 1841 (aged 31–32) |
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Susan Paul (1809–1841) was an amazing African-American woman from Boston, Massachusetts. She was an abolitionist, which means she worked hard to end slavery. Susan Paul was also a primary school teacher and a member of the Boston Female Anti-Slavery Society. She even wrote the first biography of an African American person published in the United States. This important book, called Memoir of James Jackson, came out in 1835.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Susan Paul was born in 1809. She was the youngest daughter of Thomas Paul and Catherine Waterhouse Paul. Her father, Thomas Paul, was a Baptist minister and a strong social activist. He taught Susan about the anti-slavery movement from a young age. Through him, Susan met many important people who were fighting against slavery, like David Walker and Lydia Maria Child.
Fighting for Freedom: Abolitionism
Susan Paul started her work against slavery with the New England Anti-Slavery Society (NEASS). This group was very open to women joining their efforts. In 1833, some men from NEASS, including William Lloyd Garrison, visited Susan Paul's classroom. They were really impressed by the songs her students sang. Because of this, Susan and her students were invited to attend NEASS meetings.
The Juvenile Choir of Boston
Susan Paul's students formed a group called the Juvenile Choir of Boston. These African-American children were between three and ten years old. They sang patriotic songs and songs about ending slavery. The Juvenile Choir also performed at concerts and other anti-slavery events in Boston. For two years, the choir received wonderful reviews. Often, their performances were so popular that the halls were too crowded for everyone to get in!
Susan Paul's guidance helped the choir's singing make a big difference. Their voices helped people truly understand the fight against slavery. By teaching her students songs about slavery, Susan Paul helped young African-American children learn about the abolitionist movement in the North. This also helped the African-American anti-slavery movement grow.
Joining the Boston Female Anti-Slavery Society
Later, the Boston Female Anti-Slavery Society (BFASS) was created to work with NEASS. Susan Paul became one of its first African-American members. Through her work with BFASS, she encouraged other African Americans to join the anti-slavery movement. She also inspired many women to get involved in social justice efforts.
Working for Good Choices: Temperance
Susan Paul also worked to help people make healthy choices. In the 1830s, she helped start a temperance society with Jane Putnam and Nancy Prince. This group encouraged people to avoid certain drinks. In 1833, they successfully convinced 114 African Americans to take a pledge to make healthy choices.
Susan Paul's Book
Susan Paul wrote only one book, a biography called Memoir of James Jackson. It was published in 1835. James Jackson was one of Susan's students at Boston's Primary School Number 6. Sadly, he passed away when he was just six years old. Susan Paul's writing career ended too soon when she died in 1841.
See also
- List of African-American abolitionists
- Abolitionism in the United States
- African-American literature
- Boston Women's Heritage Trail
