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Bold Women in Black History: Vashti Harrison

Robert Reed

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Published in Little Leaders: Bold Women In Black History (Vashti Harrison 1)

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Vashti Harrison was a pioneering African American suffragist, journalist, and activist. She was a key figure in the fight for women's rights and racial equality in the United States.

Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History (Vashti Harrison 1)

Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History (Vashti Harrison Book 1)

by Vashti Harrison

4.9 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	90002 KB
Print length	:	97 pages

Harrison was born in 1828 in Brooklyn, New York. Her parents were free African Americans who had escaped from slavery. Harrison attended public schools in Brooklyn and went on to study at Oberlin College in Ohio. Oberlin was one of the few colleges in the United States that admitted African American students at the time.

After graduating from Oberlin, Harrison returned to Brooklyn and began working as a teacher. She also became involved in the fight for women's rights. In 1853, she helped to organize the National Convention of Colored Women. This was the first national convention of African American women.

Harrison was also a journalist. She wrote for several newspapers and magazines, including the North Star and the Liberator. In her writings, she argued for the end of slavery and for the full equality of women. She also wrote about the experiences of African Americans in the United States.

In addition to her work for women's rights and racial equality, Harrison was also an active abolitionist. She helped to organize the Underground Railroad, which helped slaves escape to freedom in the North.

Harrison's work for social justice was often dangerous. She was threatened with violence and even arrested several times. However, she never gave up her fight for equality.

Harrison died in 1892. She was buried in Brooklyn's Green-Wood Cemetery. Her grave is marked with a headstone that reads, "Vashti Harrison, Suffragist, Journalist, Activist for Women's Rights and Racial Equality."

Harrison's legacy is one of courage, determination, and unwavering commitment to social justice. She was a pioneer for women's rights and racial equality, and her work helped to make the United States a more just and equitable society.