Frederick Douglass dismissed Myrtilla's plan to open a school for
African American girls in the slaveholding South as "reckless, almost to
the point of madness." But Myrtilla Miner, the daughter of poor white
farmers in Madison County, New York, was relentless. Fueled by an
unyielding feminist conviction, and against a tide of hostility, on
December 3, 1851, the fiery educator and abolitionist opened the School
for Colored Girls--the only school in Washington, DC, dedicated to
training African American students to be teachers.
Although often in poor health, Myrtilla was a fierce advocate for her
school, fending off numerous attacks, including stonings, arson, and
physical threats, and discouraging local "rowdies" by brandishing her
revolver with open displays of target practice. The school would
gradually gain national fame and stimulate a nationwide debate on the
education of black people. Myrtilla's School for Colored Girls would
slowly flourish through the years, and its mission exists even today
through the University of the District of Columbia. This Noble Woman is
the first modern biography of Myrtilla Miner for young adults, and
includes historic photos, source notes, a bibliography, and a list of
resources for further exploration.