Sarah Jane Smith Thompson Garnet holds a distinguished place in history as the first Black female principal of a New York City public school and as a prominent figure in the suffrage movement. Her life and work exemplify a commitment to justice, equality, and the advancement of civil rights for Black Americans, particularly Black women. Garnet’s legacy is defined by her contributions to education, activism, and the fight for women’s suffrage.
Born Sarah Jane Smith in Brooklyn in 1831, Garnet was raised in a family that valued education and achievement. Her parents, Sylvanus and Annie Springstead, were prosperous farmers who ensured that their eleven children received quality education. By the age of fourteen, Sarah had already distinguished herself as a successful student and classroom monitor. She began her career as a teacher in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and later became the principal of an integrated school in Manhattan. This appointment made her the first Black woman to serve as a principal in New York City’s public school system—a remarkable achievement during an era of pervasive racial and gender discrimination.
Beyond her contributions to education, Garnet was a trailblazer in the Black women’s club movement. In 1902, she founded the Equal Suffrage League, a suffrage organization for Black women, based in Brooklyn. The League served as a space for dialogue and action on issues affecting Black women and their communities. Meetings were held at Garnet’s home or at a nearby YMCA in Fort Greene, a middle-class Black neighborhood at the time. Notably, the League welcomed both men and women to its gatherings, underscoring Garnet’s inclusive approach to activism. In 1907, the organization hosted Anne Cobden-Sanderson, the first British suffrage leader to visit the United States. This event highlighted the growing transatlantic connections between suffrage movements in the United States and England.
Garnet’s activism extended beyond suffrage to address broader issues of racial justice and equality. She was an ardent supporter of Ida B. Wells’s anti-lynching campaign and worked tirelessly to combat discrimination against Black teachers. As an early member of the National Association of Colored Women (NACW), Garnet led its Suffrage Department, aligning herself with prominent leaders such as Wells, Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin, Victoria Earle Matthews, and Mary Church Terrell. Together, they connected the fight for women’s voting rights to a broader agenda of racial uplift and equal rights.
While Garnet’s Equal Suffrage League occasionally collaborated with white-dominated suffrage organizations in New York, these partnerships were often limited by the racism of white suffragists. In 1910, Garnet met with Alva Belmont, a wealthy suffragist who proposed establishing a “colored” branch of her Political Equality Association. However, this initiative failed to gain traction among Black women, who were already well-organized in their suffrage efforts and did not require validation or support from white women’s groups. A newspaper report on one such meeting noted that white suffragists’ speeches “did not evoke much applause,” reflecting the disconnect between the two groups.
Garnet’s influence was not confined to the United States. In 1911, she traveled to London with her sister, Dr. Susan McKinney, to attend the inaugural Universal Races Congress. This event was an early global effort to promote interracial harmony and address issues of racial inequality. Dr. McKinney, who was the first Black woman doctor licensed in New York, presented a paper at the congress, while Garnet brought back news of the progress being made by the English suffrage movement. This international engagement underscored Garnet’s vision of equality as a global imperative.
In her personal life, Garnet experienced both triumphs and tragedies. She married twice: first to James Thompson in the 1850s, with whom she had two children who sadly died young; and later to Henry Highland Garnet, a renowned abolitionist. The couple separated after a year of marriage, and Henry Highland Garnet passed away in Liberia in 1882.
Sarah J. Garnet passed away on September 17, 1911, shortly after returning from London. Her memorial service featured tributes from notable figures such as W. E. B. Du Bois and anti-lynching activist Addie Waites Hunton. They celebrated her as an educator, suffragist, and leader dedicated to advancing justice and equality for her race. Garnet was laid to rest in Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn. In recognition of her enduring legacy, a Brooklyn elementary school was renamed “PS9 Sarah Smith Garnet” in 2019. This honor reflects her profound impact on education and civil rights and ensures that her contributions will continue to inspire future generations.
Sarah J. Garnet’s life stands as a testament to her unwavering commitment to justice and equality. As an educator, activist, and leader in both the suffrage movement and broader struggles for civil rights, she paved the way for countless others to follow in her footsteps. Her story remains an essential chapter in the history of American progress and social change.