Women of...Wednesday--Sarah Remond

Just last week, in looking for information on another woman, I came across the name of Sarah Parker Remond (1826-1894). Had I known about her before, I would certainly have suggested that she be included in Women of the Bay State: 25 Massachusetts Women You Should Know.

Here's something she wrote in 1861 about an early experience in her hometown of Salem, MA:

One morning, about an hour before the usual time for dismissing pupils, the teacher informed us that we would no longer be permitted to attend the school, that he had received orders from the committee to give us this information, and added, "I wish to accompany you home, as I wish to converse with your parents upon the matter." Some of the pupils seemed indignant, and two expressed much sympathy. I had no words for any one; I only wept bitter tears, then, in a few minutes, I thought of the great injustice practised upon me, and longed for some power to help me to crush those who thus robbed me of my personal rights.

Years have elapsed since this occurred, but the memory of it is as fresh as ever in my mind. We had been expelled from the school on the sole ground of our complexion.

Sarah Remond was a black child, who not only did not forget, but she went on to be a fighter for justice. In 1853, after being thrown out of an opera house in Boston and being assaulted by the police, she sued for damages and won $500! She became a noted anti-slavery lecturer and went to England where she was well-received. In her 40s she entered medical school in Florence, Italy, became a doctor, and went on to practice medicine for more than 20 years! What a woman!

--Diane