E’ry day this month, Philly’s 7th Ward, in partnership with the Center for Black Educator Development, will highlight a “Black Educator Hall of Famer.“ But, don’t forget, e’ry month is Black History Month. February is just the Blackest. Every day is an ongoing opportunity to learn and teach the colossal impact Black educators have had on society.
Harriet Elizabeth Brown.
Harriet Elizabeth Brown, an edu-activist, was born on February 10, 1907, in Baltimore, MD, and raised in Philadelphia, PA. She attended and graduated from Philadelphia Normal School. She returned to Maryland, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in education from Morgan State University and later a Master of Education from the University of Maryland.
With a passion for teaching, Brown began working in Calvert County Public Schools in 1931; however, when pay discrepancies between white and African-American teachers came to her attention in 1937, she sought justice. Brown, who held a principal’s certificate and, at that time, eight years of teaching experience, found that her annual salary of $600 was well below that of her white peers at $1,100.
Brown contacted NAACP attorney Thurgood Marshall, who worked with her to file a lawsuit against the county for violating the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The result: the Calvert County Board of Education agreed to equalize the salaries of white and Black teachers.
The case helped pave the way for the Maryland Teachers Pay Equalization Law and eventually led to changes at the state and national levels.
After winning her case, Brown returned to work in Calvert County schools, moving from teacher to principal, as the Brown v. Board of Education case was decided and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was enacted. In writing about her experiences on the case, Brown humbly said that she felt honored to have participated in such a transformative moment in history. For over 30 years after the success of her own case, Harriet continued to work in Calvert County.
For her activism, Brown was honored numerous times, including a historical marker at the intersection of Route 2 and Pushaw Station Road in Sunderland, Maryland, where Mt. Hope Elementary School stood and where her fight first began.
Brown is the quintessential example of one person making a difference. By recognizing the injustice of her situation, Brown turned a personal grievance into an opportunity to improve the lives of countless others. As an educator, she exemplifies empowerment to act on behalf of others. This is the goal of educators (or should be): empowering young people to act for others.
Eduactivist Harriet Elizabeth Brown; a member of the Black Educator Hall of Fame.
Happy Black History Month and make sure to read up on Harriet Elizabeth Brown.
