Resilience in the face of adversity; A tale of triumph

Mary Ann Shadd Cary; 1823-1893

Biography:
My name is Mary Ann Shadd Cary. I was born on
October 9, 1923, in the slave state of Delaware.
My family moved to Pennsylvania for us to receive
our education since slave owners saw literacy as
a threat to the institution of slavery. When I was 16,
I wanted to go back to Wilmington to teach black
children. I taught for 10 years, in numerous towns
and cities in the U.S., until 1850.

With the passage of the Fugitive Slave Act in 1850,

my commitment to abolitionism deepened. However,
our participation in the Underground Railroad,
helping enslaved people escape from their
enslavers grew risky. Therefore, I moved to Canada
with my brother for our safety. I began publishing essays to persuade African Americans
to join me in Canada after becoming frustrated with leaders who talked about ending
slavery but did nothing about it. I also established a school for the children of freedom
seekers to assist newcomers in the community.

In 1853, I launched Canada’s first antislavery newspaper, The Provincial Freeman.

I feared people would not take me seriously if it was published
under my name, not only because of my gender but also because
of my race, therefore I convinced two males to appear on the
masthead for the first year of publication. I secretly snuck copies
of my newspaper across the border into the U.S. so that my
message could reach as many Americans as possible. Despite my
efforts to keep the newspaper going, it ceased publication in 1860.

In 1870, I earned a law degree from Howard University and

dedicated myself to the promotion of women’s rights. As a
member of the National Woman Suffrage Association, I
testified in support of women’s voting rights Later on, in 1880, I
created the Colored Women's Progressive Franchise to fight for
the rights of African American women.
Historical Context
In spite of the fact that I encouraged African Americans
to move to Canada, emigration was a controversial topic
among us activists. Many African Americans felt like
emigrating meant that they were giving up and letting
white Americans get away with racism. They thought
African American people should stay back and fight for
their rights, but I thought they could do both.
Consequently, I advocated for the Fifteenth Amendment
which granted the right to vote for African American men.
However, since it did not also grant women the right to
vote, I was critical of it.

Moreover, when the Civil War broke out in 1861, I moved my family back to the U.S.
This was not a wise choice as women did not have many legal and economic rights in
the U.S. to protect themselves. However, for me, the outbreak of the war meant there
was finally a real chance to end slavery and that was important to me more than
anything. During the war, I worked to recruit black soldiers. When the war ended in
1865, the 13th Amendment abolished slavery in the U.S.

Social Impact
I died on 5 June 1893 due to stomach cancer. While I achieved a great deal
throughout my life, the most valuable contribution I have made was the role I
carved out for myself as a black woman in the public sphere. I was the first
black woman to publish and edit a newspaper. The path I blazed not only for
black people, but for generations of women, was paved by pushing the
boundaries and limitations caused by my race and sex. In my honour, the
Mary Shadd Public School opened in Scarborough, Ontario in 1985.
Furthermore, Canada Post released a stamp in my honour in January 2024.
My house in Washington D.C is a national historic landmark.

Reflection
Mary Ann Shadd Cary is an inspirational and important figure to me because no matter
how much discrimination she faced, she never gave up on activism. Having influenced
the history of black women, her legacy is a testament to the power of courage and
determination. She is an inspiration to me and a reminder that anything is possible with
hard work and dedication. She made me realize that you need to take action and put in
the effort in order to bring a change. You must be able to sacrifice and take risks in
order to make a difference. As a woman who took brave steps in the times when
women barely had rights, I believe she is a role model for women regardless of their
race.

Works Cited
● https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/mary-ann-shadd
● https://www.nps.gov/people/mary-ann-shadd-cary.htm
● https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mary-Ann-Shadd-Cary
● https://www.biography.com/activists/mary-ann-shadd-cary
● https://wams.nyhistory.org/expansions-and-inequalities/politics-and-society/mary-
ann-shadd-cary/
● https://blackwomenssuffrage.dp.la/key-figures/maryAnnShaddCary

Blog post by Aiza Khuram

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