Miss Crandall's School for Young Ladies & Little Misses of Color

More about the book

The narrative centers on Prudence Crandall and her courageous black students who faced severe prejudice while pursuing education in 1830s Connecticut. Despite the hostility from local residents, including legal battles and violent acts against the school, the students recognized their right to learn. The poets Elizabeth Alexander and Marilyn Nelson creatively recount this historical struggle through sonnets, while Floyd Cooper's illustrations capture the emotional resilience of both Crandall and her students, highlighting themes of courage and the quest for knowledge.