In this post I will share a story of a woman named Susie King Taylor. She lived from 1848 - 1912. Susie Taylor, born Susan Ann Baker was the first of nine children born to Raymond and Hagar Ann Reed Baker. She was born into slavery on a plantation owned by Valentine Creest on the Isle of Wight in Liberty County, Georgia.
When Susie was about seven years old, her grandmother Dolly Reed was allowed by the plantation owner to take Susie to go live with her in Savannah, Georgia. Susie's grandmother sent her to be educated through what was known as an "underground education." Under Georgia law, it was illegal for enslaved peopled to be educated. Susie was taught by a friend of her grandmother, a woman known as Mrs Woodhouse. She was a free woman of colour who lived a half mile away from Susie's grandmother's house. Mrs Woodhouse had the students enter one at a time with their books covered to keep from drawing too much attention by the police or the local white population.
Susie attended school with about 25 to 30 children for another two years, after which she would find instruction from another free woman of colour, Mrs Mathilda Beasley, who would continue to educate Susie until May 1860. Mrs Beasly then told Susie's grandmother that she had taught Susie all that she knew but that someone else would have to be found to continue Susie's education. Susie was then educated by the son of their landlord, a boy named James Blouis, until he entered the Civil War.
In 1862, Susie was given the opportunity to obtain her own freedom.
Read Part Two HERE
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