Charlotte was born free and to a wealthy black family in Philadelphia,
but she was not permitted to attend school. A bright girl, she was
tutored at home. She was permitted to move to Salem, MA, because
the schools were integrated there. Her diary records the fact that
she was an outstanding student. She taught herself French, German,
and Latin and read over 100 books in one year.
At age 19, she graduated from Salem Normal School, an institution that
prepared women to be teachers. She became the first African-American
to teach white children in Massachusetts. When she was not teaching,
she worked for antislavery causes.
During the Civil War, some slaves fled to the Sea Islands off the coast
of South Carolina. She volunteered to live there. She was one
of the first black teachers to be a part of the movement to educate ex-slaves.
She gave up a comfortable life in the North to do so.
Read more about Charlotte Forten Grimke at:
