Sarah A. Gray was born in Alexandria, Virginia to parents William and Laura Dundas Gray. As her father was free and her mother was emancipated, Gray was able to attend St. Francis School in Baltimore (an opportunity which was not afforded to most African Americans at the time, under slavery). Gray began teaching school at the age of 14.
As the Civil War progressed, many former slaves fled to Alexandria. To address the educational needs of their children, Gray and colleague Jane A. Crouch founded the St. Rose Institute, which remained open throughout the war.
Gray established the Excelsior School in 1867, and became a teacher at Alexandria’s first public school for black girls, Hallowell School, in 1870. She was named Hallowell’s principal in 1883. Gray retired in 1892 for health reasons and died in 1893.
sources:
https://www.lva.virginia.gov/public/vawomen/2016/honoree.htm?bio=Gray
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That is a beautiful picture. I have been thinking lately that if this Country got rid of discrimination and bias based on race it would surpass Russia by far. But it seems some government officials still enables discrimination and bias against people of other races. That is why bright people and especially racial minorities spend their brains trying to combat racial discrimination instead of thinking how advance in science, economy and general wellbeing of themselves and of others. Why can’t USA emulate Tanzania which killed tribalism when it got independence in 1961. Now you go to any province in Tanzania you will find people from other tribes living happily in any province. We Americans should grow up now and use our age as weapon to stop discrimination based on color or any other factor. Here is video from Mwanza, Tanzania. This Sukuma star hires anybody from any tribe so long as they can dance; and in fact, recognizes them by name and where originally came from. Some are refugees from Rwanda and Burundi.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2KTT6EFBi0