Who is Fannie Barrier Williams?
Fannie Barrier Williams was a young African American girl who was well liked by most whites as a child, as she didn’t grow up in a very racist neighborhood. She spent her life trying to make a difference in African American women’s lives. It was tougher for her because during her time people like Elizabeth Cady Stanton was fighting for women’s rights, let alone a black women’s’ rights. Fannie Barrie Williams was not a selfish individual but an outstanding person who wanted women to be considered strong individuals in society. She moved from state to state to make people hear her voice and encourage them to work together.
Fannie Barrier Williams was born February 12, 1855 in Brockport, New York. Her family was well respected in the community. Her father, Anthony Barrier, was a barber and coal merchant. Harriet, Fannie’s mother, was a Sunday school teacher. Fannie’s day was also part of the church. He was th
e leader of the First Baptist Church. Fannie’s parents had her involved in the church. During Sunday service Fannie played the piano. Fannie had two siblings, Ella, who became a principle in Washington, D.C. and George, a leader of local politics and an inspector for the Detroit Board of Public.
Fannie Barrie was raised color blinded, meaning she associated herself very well with the white students and was not knowledgeable of the prejudice around the world. In 1970, Fannie was the first African American to graduate from State Normal School. Today that school is known as the
State University if New York. Fannie had also studied at the New England Conservatory of Music but was kicked out. The reason for this disgrace was because Southern whites did not want to see her in the school with them. That’s when she realized "Whether I live in the North or the South, I cannot be counted for my full value." (Williams)
Frederick Douglass was a friend of Fannie’s parents. Fannie had taken a teaching position in the south because of Douglass’ inspiration and encouragement. That was the first time in her life time that Fannie experience such hostel and brutal attacks. Her childhood of holding hands in hands with white classmates did not prepare her for the degradations she would face. "I never quite recovered from the shock and pain of my first bitter realization," she wrote, "that to be a colored woman is to be discredited, mistrusted and often meanly hated." (Fannie)
Fannie’s next step was to move to Washington D.C. and teach. Fannie met her husband in Washington, D.C. He was currently studying law at Columbia University. Fannie also got to attend the School of Fine Arts to study portrait painting. After their marriage in 1887, in Brockport, New York, they had decided to move to Chicago. Together they were the leaders in an African American community. In the community white reformers became a close friend of the Williams. Jane Assams, Marry McDowell, and Philip D. are examples of people they worked with. The Prudence Crandall Study Club was created by Fannie’s husband. Fannie was the director of music and art in Chicago. In 1891 the Williams became a part of the creation of the Provident Hospital. The hospital was bi-racial from clients to staff members. Armour had made this possible with his donation. Black students was banned from nursing training from other schools had the opportunity there.
Fannie Williams gave it her all to have African Americans recognized. In 1893 with Fannie’s fight she succeeded in having African Americans represented at the Colombian Exposition in Chicago. In the Department of Publicity and Promotions, Fannie was awarded the clerk in charged of colored interest. Her invitation was to present the World’s Congress of Representative Women and the World’s Parliament of Religion. Her first speech argued the rights of African American women. She believes slavery made African Americans known as incapable to perform the same duties as other women. Also it caused them to have no right. With the encouragement from the words of Frederick Douglass, Fannie “called on all women to unite to claim their inalienable rights.” (Williams) Her second speech, “World’s Parliament of Religion,” wanted all churches to open doors for all races, especially the churches in the South. Fannie believes society’s problems could be solved with faith.
In 1893, Fannie helped found the National League of Colored Women. In 1896, she helped found the National Association of Colored Women. The purposes of these organizations were to provide women with the resources they needed, that they were not allowed access any where else. These organizations helped with all kinds of things such as mother’s groups, sewing classes, saving banks, child care, employment bureaus, and many other needs. In 1905, Fannie created the Phillis Wheatley Home for Girls and Frederick Douglass Center. Fannie was also honored with the title to be the first women on the Chicago Library Board. Fannie was also one of the founders of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. She wanted to change the feeling she had, "that to be a colored woman is to be discredited, mistrusted and often meanly hated." (Fannie)
In 1921, Fannie’s husband died. Several years later, 1926, she moved back to her hometown,Brockport , New York Chicago Chicago Chicago
Fannie Barrier Williams was a young African American girl who was well liked by most whites as a child, as she didn’t grow up in a very racist neighborhood. She spent her life trying to make a difference in African American women’s lives. It was tougher for her because during her time people like Elizabeth Cady Stanton was fighting for women’s rights, let alone a black women’s’ rights. Fannie Barrie Williams was not a selfish individual but an outstanding person who wanted women to be considered strong individuals in society. She moved from state to state to make people hear her voice and encourage them to work together.
Mrs. Williams
Fannie Barrier Williams was born February 12, 1855 in Brockport, New York. Her family was well respected in the community. Her father, Anthony Barrier, was a barber and coal merchant. Harriet, Fannie’s mother, was a Sunday school teacher. Fannie’s day was also part of the church. He was th
e leader of the First Baptist Church. Fannie’s parents had her involved in the church. During Sunday service Fannie played the piano. Fannie had two siblings, Ella, who became a principle in Washington, D.C. and George, a leader of local politics and an inspector for the Detroit Board of Public.Fannie Barrie was raised color blinded, meaning she associated herself very well with the white students and was not knowledgeable of the prejudice around the world. In 1970, Fannie was the first African American to graduate from State Normal School. Today that school is known as the
State University if New York. Fannie had also studied at the New England Conservatory of Music but was kicked out. The reason for this disgrace was because Southern whites did not want to see her in the school with them. That’s when she realized "Whether I live in the North or the South, I cannot be counted for my full value." (Williams)
Frederick Douglass was a friend of Fannie’s parents. Fannie had taken a teaching position in the south because of Douglass’ inspiration and encouragement. That was the first time in her life time that Fannie experience such hostel and brutal attacks. Her childhood of holding hands in hands with white classmates did not prepare her for the degradations she would face. "I never quite recovered from the shock and pain of my first bitter realization," she wrote, "that to be a colored woman is to be discredited, mistrusted and often meanly hated." (Fannie)
Fannie’s next step was to move to Washington D.C. and teach. Fannie met her husband in Washington, D.C. He was currently studying law at Columbia University. Fannie also got to attend the School of Fine Arts to study portrait painting. After their marriage in 1887, in Brockport, New York, they had decided to move to Chicago. Together they were the leaders in an African American community. In the community white reformers became a close friend of the Williams. Jane Assams, Marry McDowell, and Philip D. are examples of people they worked with. The Prudence Crandall Study Club was created by Fannie’s husband. Fannie was the director of music and art in Chicago. In 1891 the Williams became a part of the creation of the Provident Hospital. The hospital was bi-racial from clients to staff members. Armour had made this possible with his donation. Black students was banned from nursing training from other schools had the opportunity there.
Fannie Williams gave it her all to have African Americans recognized. In 1893 with Fannie’s fight she succeeded in having African Americans represented at the Colombian Exposition in Chicago. In the Department of Publicity and Promotions, Fannie was awarded the clerk in charged of colored interest. Her invitation was to present the World’s Congress of Representative Women and the World’s Parliament of Religion. Her first speech argued the rights of African American women. She believes slavery made African Americans known as incapable to perform the same duties as other women. Also it caused them to have no right. With the encouragement from the words of Frederick Douglass, Fannie “called on all women to unite to claim their inalienable rights.” (Williams) Her second speech, “World’s Parliament of Religion,” wanted all churches to open doors for all races, especially the churches in the South. Fannie believes society’s problems could be solved with faith.
In 1893, Fannie helped found the National League of Colored Women. In 1896, she helped found the National Association of Colored Women. The purposes of these organizations were to provide women with the resources they needed, that they were not allowed access any where else. These organizations helped with all kinds of things such as mother’s groups, sewing classes, saving banks, child care, employment bureaus, and many other needs. In 1905, Fannie created the Phillis Wheatley Home for Girls and Frederick Douglass Center. Fannie was also honored with the title to be the first women on the Chicago Library Board. Fannie was also one of the founders of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. She wanted to change the feeling she had, "that to be a colored woman is to be discredited, mistrusted and often meanly hated." (Fannie)
In 1921, Fannie’s husband died. Several years later, 1926, she moved back to her hometown,
Works Cited
Edwards, June. "Fannie Barrier Williams." 2004. Unitarian Universalist Historical Society . 11 May 2009 http://www25.uua.org/uuhs/duub/articles/fanniebarrierwilliams.html.
Dannett, Sylvia G.L., Profiles of Negro Womanhood, Yonkers, NY: Educational Heritage, 1964.
"Fannie Barrier Williams." Western New York Suffragist. 11 May 2009 http://www.winningthevote.org/FBWilliams.html.
"Fannie Barrier Williams." Wikipedia. 11 May 2009 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fannie_Barrier_Williams.
Hine, Darlene Clark, Black Women in American History, Brooklyn, NY: Carlson Pub., 1990
Williams, Fannie, "A Northern Negro's Autobiography," The Independent, vol. LVII, No. 2002, July 14, 1904
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