African-American Women in the Civil War

African American Women

During the Civil War

A free program from the Ohio Humanities Council Speakers Bureau.

They were young and old, sisters, mothers, and grandmothers. Some were well-to-do, others were slaves. All resolved to be a part of the War that would ultimately determine the status of the Black man in America. This talk focuses on women of African descent—Susie King Taylor who nursed with Clara Barton; Elizabeth Keckley, dressmaker and confidant to Mary Todd Lincoln; Charlotte Forten, college graduate and first African American to teach freed slaves in the south, Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, and others—and their unique contributions to the war effort. Dr. Jefferson discusses how such women, without access to political power and often lacking material and/or financial resources, acted with strength of character and will to make meaningful contributions to the war that impacted the world and changed a nation.

Thursday, March 4th

7:00 to 8:30 p.m.

Youngstown Historical Center (Steel Museum)

151 W. Wood Street, Youngstown

Annette Jefferson holds an MA in Black Studies and a Ph.D. in Social Work, and works as a development officer in Human Services. She has spent more than 20 years developing her presentation and performing as Sojourner Truth across the state, including as part of Ohio Chautauqua 2001. She hopes that people are uplifted by Sojourner’s story and will use that inspiration to bring about positive changes in their own lives.

This program is sposored by the Mahoning Valley Historical Society, YSU Center for Applied History and YSU Women's Studies. Funding for the program was made possible by the Ohio Humanities Council, a state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.