Lily Ann Granderson
Encyclopedia
Lily Ann Granderson, born a slave in Virginia
in 1816, was a pioneering educator. Lily Ann’s grandmother was a free woman of Native American
descent. However, after the death of her grandmother, Lily’s Ann’s mother was sold into slavery at three years of age. Later on in Lily Ann’s life, she was moved to Kentucky
and worked as a house slave because of her fair skin. Little was known about Lily Ann’s father. All that is known is that he is a white man that was from one of the First Families of Virginia
(FFV). Lily Ann and the master’s family became quite close. The master’s children even taught Lily Ann how to read and write.
Tragedy struck for Lily Ann when her master died and she was shipped down the river to Mississippi
where she had be sold to another slave master. On this plantation
Lily Ann worked in the field
s, something she was not accustomed to. In fact, while working in the hot fields of Mississippi, Lily Ann grew ill. Lily Ann begged the slave master to remove her from the field and place her somewhere where the work wasn’t so hard on her health
. After much begging, the slave master allowed Lily Ann to work in the kitchen
at his home. The slave master’s home was not located directly on the plantation, it was located in town. So everyday, Lily Ann had to make the trip into town but it was a lot better than working in the fields from sun up to sun down.
Going into town allowed Lily Ann to begin her own school
. However, it was against the law in Mississippi to educate slaves out of fear of rebels and runaways. To get around this, Lily Ann held classes late at night and enslaved children would sneak out to attend the class. The class size was limited to twelve children at a time. After the children learned how to read and write, they “graduated
” and then there was room for twelve more children. Lily Ann operated this class for about seven years without being discovered. Unfortunately, word leaked out about this late night class for slaves. To much surprise, there was no penalty for Lily Ann’s actions. Although there is a law against the education of slaves, there was a clause in this Mississippi law that Lily Ann had unknowingly stumbled upon. It is against Mississippi law for whites and free slaves to educate another slave, but there is nothing in the law book about one slave educating another slave. As a result of this clause, Lily Ann turned around and opened a Sabbath school in addition to her late night school.
Later on Lily Ann got married and had two children. The last that is known of Lily Ann is that she was one of the first blacks to open an account at the Freedman’s Bank at 54 years of age.
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
in 1816, was a pioneering educator. Lily Ann’s grandmother was a free woman of Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
descent. However, after the death of her grandmother, Lily’s Ann’s mother was sold into slavery at three years of age. Later on in Lily Ann’s life, she was moved to Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
and worked as a house slave because of her fair skin. Little was known about Lily Ann’s father. All that is known is that he is a white man that was from one of the First Families of Virginia
First Families of Virginia
First Families of Virginia were those families in Colonial Virginia who were socially prominent and wealthy, but not necessarily the earliest settlers. They originated with colonists from England who primarily settled at Jamestown, Williamsburg, and along the James River and other navigable waters...
(FFV). Lily Ann and the master’s family became quite close. The master’s children even taught Lily Ann how to read and write.
Tragedy struck for Lily Ann when her master died and she was shipped down the river to Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
where she had be sold to another slave master. On this plantation
Plantation
A plantation is a long artificially established forest, farm or estate, where crops are grown for sale, often in distant markets rather than for local on-site consumption...
Lily Ann worked in the field
Field (agriculture)
In agriculture, the word field refers generally to an area of land enclosed or otherwise and used for agricultural purposes such as:* Cultivating crops* Usage as a paddock or, generally, an enclosure of livestock...
s, something she was not accustomed to. In fact, while working in the hot fields of Mississippi, Lily Ann grew ill. Lily Ann begged the slave master to remove her from the field and place her somewhere where the work wasn’t so hard on her health
Health
Health is the level of functional or metabolic efficiency of a living being. In humans, it is the general condition of a person's mind, body and spirit, usually meaning to be free from illness, injury or pain...
. After much begging, the slave master allowed Lily Ann to work in the kitchen
Kitchen
A kitchen is a room or part of a room used for cooking and food preparation.In the West, a modern residential kitchen is typically equipped with a stove, a sink with hot and cold running water, a refrigerator and kitchen cabinets arranged according to a modular design. Many households have a...
at his home. The slave master’s home was not located directly on the plantation, it was located in town. So everyday, Lily Ann had to make the trip into town but it was a lot better than working in the fields from sun up to sun down.
Going into town allowed Lily Ann to begin her own school
School
A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...
. However, it was against the law in Mississippi to educate slaves out of fear of rebels and runaways. To get around this, Lily Ann held classes late at night and enslaved children would sneak out to attend the class. The class size was limited to twelve children at a time. After the children learned how to read and write, they “graduated
Graduation
Graduation is the action of receiving or conferring an academic degree or the ceremony that is sometimes associated, where students become Graduates. Before the graduation, candidates are referred to as Graduands. The date of graduation is often called degree day. The graduation itself is also...
” and then there was room for twelve more children. Lily Ann operated this class for about seven years without being discovered. Unfortunately, word leaked out about this late night class for slaves. To much surprise, there was no penalty for Lily Ann’s actions. Although there is a law against the education of slaves, there was a clause in this Mississippi law that Lily Ann had unknowingly stumbled upon. It is against Mississippi law for whites and free slaves to educate another slave, but there is nothing in the law book about one slave educating another slave. As a result of this clause, Lily Ann turned around and opened a Sabbath school in addition to her late night school.
Later on Lily Ann got married and had two children. The last that is known of Lily Ann is that she was one of the first blacks to open an account at the Freedman’s Bank at 54 years of age.