Edmonia Highgate (June 21, 1844 – October 16, 1870), was an educator, writer, and activist for freed people in the post-Civil War

Reconstruction Reconstruction may refer to: Politics, history, and sociology *Reconstruction (law), the transfer of a company's (or several companies') business to a new company *'' Perestroika'' (Russian for "reconstruction"), a late 20th century Soviet Unio ...

era. Though born in Syracuse, New York, Highgate's work with the American Missionary Association brought her south to teach freed slaves in locations such as Norfolk, Virginia, and

New Orleans, Louisiana New Orleans ( , ,New Orleans

. Highgate's writings for the ''Christian Recorde''r establish her as an early representation of the intersection of

Protestantism Protestantism is a branch of Christianity that follows the theological tenets of the Protestant Reformation, a movement that began seeking to reform the Catholic Church from within in the 16th century against what its followers perceived to b ...

and Black

transcendentalism Transcendentalism is a philosophical movement that developed in the late 1820s and 1830s in New England. "Transcendentalism is an American literary, political, and philosophical movement of the early nineteenth century, centered around Ralph Wald ...

Early life

Highgate was born in Syracuse, New York, on June 21, 1844, as the first of Charles and Hannah Francis Highgate's seven children. Charles Highgate was a barber, and the family also rented out rooms, allowing them to support the education of their children. Edmonia Highgate received a teaching certificate from the Syracuse Board of Education after graduating from Syracuse High School in 1861, the only African American in her graduating class. She was influenced by her family's involvement with Plymouth Congregational Church, as well as their friendships with notable abolitionists and transcendentalists.

Career

Travels: North and South

After the death of her father in May 1861, Highgate moved to Binghamton New York, where she became a school principal at nineteen years old. Three years later, Highgate transferred to an American Missionary Association school in Norfolk, Virginia. Though she taught at this school for freed slaves for less than a year, the relationships she formed with her fellow teachers as well as the students who experienced slavery changed Highgate profoundly. After leaving the school for mental health reasons, Highgate called her time at the Norfolk school "the most earnest months of my existence." Highgate returned to Syracuse, New York, in October 1864, and gave a notable address to the National Convention of Colored Men. At the convention, Highgate was one of only two women who spoke, and was praised by the president of the convention,

Frederick Douglass Frederick Douglass (born Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey, February 1817 or 1818 – February 20, 1895) was an American social reformer, abolitionist, orator, writer, and statesman. After escaping from slavery in Maryland, he became ...

. In March 1865, Highgate started a school for the newly freed in

Darlington, Maryland Darlington is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in northeastern Harford County, Maryland, United States.African Methodist Episcopal Church's ''Christian Recorder''. These works include "Salvation Only in Work" and "Waiting for the Cars," both written in February 1865, as well as "A Stray Waif from the Port of Grace," written in April 1865. In May 1865, Highgate published "Congojoco," a serialized work of three installments including both fiction and nonfiction. The last installment, titled "A Spring Day Up the James," was partially inspired by the death of her brother Charlie in battle. In 1866, Highgate moved to New Orleans, Louisiana, where she and her sister Caroline both worked as educators. In their time outside of the schoolhouse, the Highgate sisters visited African American victims of white violence in hospitals and helped to found the Louisiana Educational Relief Association, an organization for the advancement of black education. Highgate's writings in New Orleans emphasize the racial tensions of

, particularly the race riots in the summer of 1866.

New Orleans Massacre

On July 30, 1866, 25 White

Radical Republicans The Radical Republicans (later also known as "Stalwarts") were a faction within the Republican Party, originating from the party's founding in 1854, some 6 years before the Civil War, until the Compromise of 1877, which effectively ended Recons ...

came together to protest the passing of Black Codes in Louisiana specifically the lack of black suffrage from the codes. They met at the Louisiana Constitutional Convention joined in support by over 200 African American Veterans of the

Civil War A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies ...

. Angered by the threat of a potential loss in Louisiana

White Supremacy White supremacy or white supremacism is the belief that white people are superior to those of other races and thus should dominate them. The belief favors the maintenance and defense of any power and privilege held by white people. White s ...

, former

Confederate Confederacy or confederate may refer to: States or communities * Confederate state or confederation, a union of sovereign groups or communities * Confederate States of America, a confederation of secessionist American states that existed between 1 ...

men and the New Orleans police united and attacked the convention targeting the radical population. The targets waved a white flag in surrender, but shots continued to fire. As people fled the scene, the rioters chased the victims outside, causing the death of many African Americans walking in the streets as well. This riot led to the murdering over 200 people, mostly African Americans and 3 of the white radicals. Highgate, feeling threatened by these violent acts, left New Orleans and went to teach in Lafayette Parish.

Philosophical and political views

Highgate dedicated her life to fight for quality education and racial justice for African Americans. Soon after she received her teaching certification, she began working for the Pennsylvania’s Freedman Relief Association. A strong believer in the importance of education, she advocated for better education for freed black communities. Highgate worked to inspire more teachers to join the antislavery movement. In an address to the

Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society The Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society, headquartered in Boston, was organized as an auxiliary of the American Anti-Slavery Society in 1835. Its roots were in the New England Anti-Slavery Society, organized by William Lloyd Garrison, editor of ' ...

, Highgate stated, “Even in the instruction given to the ignorant there lacks some of the main essentials of right instruction. The teachers sent out by the evangelical organizations do very little to remove caste-prejudice, the twin sister of slavery. We need Anti-Slavery teachers who will show that it is safe to do right.” Highgate traveled around working for the American Missionary Association giving addresses that encouraged people to donate. Half of her proceeds funded the school her mother worked at in Mississippi and the other half went to AMA funds. While working as a teacher, Highgate also worked strongly advocating for equal rights. While in New Orleans, Highgate attacked Louisiana’s School Board segregation policy resulting in some of her students to get shot at walking into school and in the classroom. Highgate wanted her students to stop suffering from racial hatred and to get the best possible education they could. She devoted all of her time to opening schools and generating forms of education for all kinds of people. In a letter she wrote to Reverend George Whipple in 1864 , Highgate claimed, “I am convinced that it would be useless to attempt to report in one letter the various thrilling cases with which am daily permitted to meet. I have lately taken a school of fifty second-grade pupils taught by Miss Hill. The children seem almost inconsolable at the loss of so amiable a teacher who left a home of affluence and devoted herself so self-sacrificingly to help in the great work of elevating the nation's freedmen . I have also just commenced teaching from four till six at the Rope Walk and already feel blessed in the effort. I have my reward in advance in all phases of this excellent work. My evening class of men who are studying geography arithmetic &c. afford me decided recreation. Oh how inspiring the thought that these dear souls are forever free.”

Death and legacy

Edmonia Highgate later fell in love with a white man, John Henry Vosburg. Highgate died suddenly on October 16, 1870, in Syracuse, New York. Although many sources claim the reason for her death as ‘unknown,’ her body was found in the house of an abortion provider, Mrs. Paine. Train tickets to Tugaloo, Mississippi were found in her trunk as her intention was to return to her teaching career there. Other sources claim on examination of her body it was found, that she was with child, and she probably took poison to hide the shame of an unwed pregnancy.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Highgate, Edmonia 1844 births 1870 deaths African-American activists Activists from Syracuse, New York