Susie King Taylor

In this "land of the free" we are burned, tortured, and denied a fair trial, murdered for any imaginary wrong conceived in the brain of the Negro-hating white man. There is no redress for us from a government which promised to protect all under its flag.” - Susie King Taylor

At the young age of only 13, Susie founded the first free AfricanAmerican school for children, and became the first African American woman to teach a free school in Georgia. During the day she taught children, and at night she taught adults.

She was married twice, her first husband Edward King, died in an accident while working as a longshoreman. She later married Russell Taylor, who died in 1901. Susie King Taylor was most likely Savannah’s first black advocate for the rights of black people.

In 2015, the Susie King Taylor Community School was dedicated in Savannah Georgia. In 2018 Taylor was elected to the Georgia Women of Achievement Hall of Fame for her contributions to education, Freedom, and Humanity.