Blogs

by Adib Rashad ~

 The Western world has philosophically promoted and justified two extremely
reprehensible concepts that have adversely effected human beings--especially
the African family.  These two concepts, slavery and misogyny, began with the
Greek philosophers and extended themselves into the religious, social, and
political fabric of Western society.

Slavery and misogyny have implanted in the world a philosophically distorted
view of human sexuality, nonwestern culture, and nonwestern people.  It must
be said that women are the cornerstone and the essence of culture and
civilization; therefore, whenever women are relegated to positions
inferiority, the nation or race to which they belong usually bears the brunt.
African American women, despite these two heinous concepts, have
demonstrated the propensity to elevate and sustain their race under extreme
circumstances. Our historical status in this country bespeaks human denial and
human degradation, but we are continuing to strive for excellence because of the
innate will and desire of African American women to live and promote their
race in whatever manner possible.

Fanny Muriel Jackson Coppin was a victim of both these despicable concepts;
she was a slave and a woman of color.  Additionally, Fanny, along with
Harriet Tubman, Mary McLeod Bethune, Lucy Laney, and other women of
African descent refused to succumb to a racist, misogynist slave system.
Fanny Muriel Jackson Coppin (1836-1913) was the first African American
woman to graduate from a recognized college in the United States.  This
accomplishment was minor in comparison with her unconquerable spirited
demeanor and her accomplishments as a public speaker and educator.

She was born a slave in Washington, D. C.  Her aunt, Sara Clark, purchased
her freedom for 175 dollars, although she only earned six dollars a month. 
After she was freed at the age of 15, Fanny went to Newport, Virginia to live
with relatives.  She did not want to depend on her aunt or relatives, so she
went to work in the home of Mr. and Mrs. George Calvert.  She wrote about
this period of her life in this manner:
"So I went to service.  Oh, the hue and cry there was, when I went out to
live!  Even my aunt spoke of it; she had a home to offer me, but the slavish
element was so strong in me that I must make myself servant.  Ah, how those
things cut me then!  But I knew I was right, and kept straight on....  The
lady with whom I lived allowed me one hour every other afternoon to go and
recite to a person whom I paid to teach me.  For this I was not allowed to go
out at any time....  I remained there six years, using my seven dollars a
month to pay for my instruction."

Fanny worked, studied, and prepared herself so that she could enroll in the
Rhode Island State Normal School in Bristol.  Prior to Fanny's departure for
the state school, Mrs. Calvert tried desperately to retain her services.  She
asked Fanny, "Will money keep you?" "No," replied Fanny, "I want to fit
myself to help educate my people." 

This incessant desire and dedication to uplift her people remained the one
purpose in her entire life.

While attending the state school, Fanny decided to become a teacher.  After
completing state school, she entered Oberlin College with financial
assistance from her Aunt Sara; she also received a scholarship.
Fanny was too independent minded to rely on assistance entirely; she taught
music to the children of the college's professors and thereby helped to pay
way through college.  She attended Oberlin for five years; she worked, and
studied math, Greek, and French.  During her time at Oberlin, she became more
and more convinced that her mission in life was to serve her people.  She
wrote, "I felt the whole responsibility of my people resting on my shoulders.
 My failure was my people's failure."
When an exodus of freedmen came into Ohio during the closing months of the
Civil War, she dutifully formed a class for them.  She taught adult men and
women how to read and write.

A short time later, a request for a teacher at the Institute for Colored
Youth in Philadelphia was mentioned, and Fanny was highly recommended. 
She began work at the institute in 1865; four years later, she was the principal.
For 35 years her career in Philadelphia was  one of intense activity,
acknowledged ability as an educator, and distinction as a leader in every
good cause that promoted the betterment of African American people in
Philadelphia as well the country at large.  No voice was more profound than
hers outside of the classroom; no educator shaped and molded minds more
intensely.

Fanny's accomplishments were varied, but her most unique accomplishment and
contribution was that of educator.  She organized the Colored Woman's
Exchange, which for the first time gave African Americans the opportunity to
exhibit their artistic and mechanical workmanship.  She founded the home for
Girls and Young Women, which gave young women engaged in domestic service 
the comforts of home.  It was maintained for a number of years by her energetic 
efforts and expertise.

She also acted as an interpreter of French in court, and was for a time one
of the directors of the Old Folks Home.  In addition to these activities, she
was appointed by the mayor of Philadelphia to the Board of City Examiners for
clerical officers.

She married Reverend Levi J. Coppin in 1881, but continued her work at the
institute for 19 more years.  When her husband became a bishop and was
assigned to South Africa in 1900, she joined him to assist in his missionary
work.

If Fanny Coppin had been a member of another race and sex, her
personality--her very presence would have won her high recognition.  The
history of Fanny Muriel Jackson Coppin must be told and retold because she
truly epitomized the essence of African American womanhood.

Mrs. Coppin published her autobiography "Reminiscences of School Life, and
Hints on Teaching," in 1913.  She died at her home in Philadelphia on January
21, 1913.

Adib Rashad RashadM@AOL.COM is an Education Consultant,
historian, author, and Education Program Director.

This article was previously published by theMarcusGarveyBBS (an entity of TheBlackList)
and TheBlackList at http://lists.topica.com/lists/TheBlackList/read