The OGs: Pushing for A Better Future Way Back When!

She-roes born unfree, marginalized by race and gender, and largely forgotten—Brave Sis Project exists to uplift the stories and legacies of such women, and in this #SistoryLesson, we are going to meet three “OGs”—women from centuries past who refused to accept the limitations placed upon them.

As dismal as the landscape may seem for women of color and especially Black women in our society today, we can take solace in thinking about how Old Elizabeth, Rose Fortune, and Susie King Taylor carved paths of resistance “back when.”

These three women remind us that resistance takes many forms: it might be the preacher's voice that will not be silenced, or the entrepreneur's determination to protect her community, or of course, the teacher's commitment to both educate and document.

These courageous women built freedom not just for themselves but for generations they would never meet. In these difficult days, what can we do for those who will come after us?

What Old Elizabeth, Rose Fortune, and Susie King Taylor Can Teach Us About Pushing for A Better Future

Each woman we will honor this newsletter edition sought a future where equality, and liberation are universal and collective truths. They didn't do it for the fanfare, they did it for reasons of general dignity and devotion.

I think their activism reminds us that even in these times of extreme totalitarian behavior, it is our resistance—rooted in solidarity, intersectional clarity, and boundless hope—that must persevere. Whether on the streets of protest, in your community circles, or (yassss!) even in your own personal learning, exploring, and growth, KEEP AT IT.

Old Elizabeth: The Formerly Enslaved Woman Who Preached Far and Wide

You probably know that women preachers were a rarity in American history; imagine heeding this call in the late 18^th century! Imagine forging this path as a woman born into slavery. But Old Elizabeth—she never took a surname, never married, never had children—was one of the most remarkable traveling preachers of the early 1800s, and the first Black woman to pen an autobiography, at age 97! (Never having been given the privilege of learning to read, she dictated it to a white lady friend.)

Born around 1766 in Maryland to a Methodist family, Elizabeth was ripped from her mother’s arms, sold off to another enslaver at age eleven. Severely punished for sneaking away to visit her beloved mommy, Elizabeth was plummeted into deep trauma. It was not until age 30 that she had a profound religious experience that transformed her life entirely: she was called to preach.

At age forty-two, she began preaching in Baltimore to multiracial congregations—imagine the audacity required for a Black woman to claim spiritual authority in the early 1800s! Her ministry took her throughout Virginia, Michigan, Canada, and Pennsylvania, often facing harassment from authorities who saw a Black woman preaching as extremely threatening. But when faced with such opposition, she responded with characteristic defiance: "If the Lord has called me to preach, I must obey God rather than man."

Reflection: What message have you been called to carry?

Rose Fortune: Canada's First Female Police Officer

Rose Fortune was born into slavery in Philadelphia in 1774 but journeyed north as a Black Loyalist child, settling in Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia, at age ten. By middle age, Rose had established herself as the town's go-to luggage carrier, transporting bags and parcels from the ferry docks to local hotels with her trusty wheelbarrow.

But Rose was more than a businesswoman: understanding that unsafe docks would hurt her enterprise, she took matters into her own hands—she became a protector of order. Dressed in layers of both men's and women's clothing and armed with her walking stick, she imposed strict curfews on the waterfront and enforced order with unwavering authority—Canada’s first lady cop!

Rose Fortune is honored in Canada today with: a commemorative plaque at Annapolis Royal Wharf, Nova Scotia, and official recognition as a National Historic Person by the Canadian government, among other tributes.

Reflection: What does it mean to protect community? How do you define courage in your daily life?

Susie King Taylor - The Teacher Who Wrote History

Susie King Taylor was not included in my book, but I’ve given her tribute on social media several times over the past five years. Born in 1848, the author of the only Civil War memoir published by a Black woman—1902’s Reminiscences of My Life in Camp with the 33d United States Colored Troops—Susie grew up in a time where enslaved people were banned from learning to read (just be reminded of the importance of education and knowledge, then and now!)

But her grandmother set up secret schools to educate the youth, and at age fourteen, Susie escaped with Union forces to St. Simons Island, off the Georgia coast. These officers, appreciating her literacy, asked her to organize a school, and thus she became the first Black teacher in a publicly operating freedmen's school in Georgia, teaching forty children during the day and adults at night—"all of them so eager to learn to read, to read above anything else."

She also served as a nurse and "laundress" with the 33rd U.S. Colored Troops, caring for soldiers during smallpox outbreaks and battlefield injuries.

For four years and three months, she served without receiving a single dollar.

Reflection: Where in your life are you called to move beyond enduring to empowering others?

Reflection and Action: Journal Prompts for Everyone

Energized by Old Elizabeth? How do you use your voice to inspire others? Write about a time you spoke up and made a difference.

Inspired by Rose Fortune? Write about a moment you stood up for yourself or others.

Moved by Susie King Taylor? How would you support the ailing during a time of civil strife?

HerStory / OurStory: Journal Prompts for Women of Color

Thinking about Old Elizabeth: How does spirit — however you define it — shape your resistance? Share a story of an elder in your community who inspires you.

Considering Rose Fortune: Who made you feel safe growing up? How? Write about a moment you stood up for yourself or others. Identify a barrier you’ve overcome and celebrate your resilience.

Reflecting on Susie King Taylor: What truths have you had to teach — even while healing?

Activated Allies: Prompts and Actions for White Friends

For Old Elizabeth: Learn about other Black women spiritual leaders who came before 1900. Share their wisdom. Amplify the voices of BIPOC elders and storytellers in your circles.

In homage to Rose Fortune: Learn about Black Loyalist history. How does it connect to your community? Think about a time you witnessed injustice—did you intervene? Why or why not?

Honoring Susie King Taylor: Read primary sources by Black women about slavery and Reconstruction. Let them be your teachers.

More on Their Lives

Rose Fortune - March 13, 1774 – February 20, 1864 - North America’s First Woman Police Officer

Rose Fortune was born to runaway slaves of African and South American descent. Her parents were Black Loyalists, people who supported the British during the American Revolution in exchange for the promise of freedom. After the war, Rose and her family were among about 3,000 Black Loyalists relocated to Nova Scotia, Canada.

Though details of her childhood are scarce, as an adult Rose established a business at the Annapolis Royal Wharf, transporting baggage for new arrivals with her wheelbarrow. Known for her honesty and reliability, she expanded her services, eventually using a horse-drawn wagon and escorting travelers to their ships.

Rose was so effective at maintaining order on the waterfront that the community regarded her as the police officer of Annapolis Royal—making her the first woman to serve as a police officer in North America. She ensured safety and discipline, with no tolerance for mischief or unruly behavior. Rose also aided other escapees on their journeys to freedom in Canada via the Underground Railroad.

The only known image of Rose is a watercolor sketch: a purposeful woman in a straw hat, thick dress, kerchief, and heavy coat, holding a basket mid-stride. Though we have few images of the OGs, a memorial plaque at the Annapolis Royal Wharf honors her legacy, stating, “The story of Rose Fortune epitomizes the perseverance of Black Loyalists who confronted prejudice and inequality to make a place for themselves in Canada.”

Rose's descendants continued in the transportation business for generations, and have played an important part in this region of Nova Scotia. Notably, her great-great-granddaughter, Daurene Lewis, (pictured above) became the first Black mayor in Canada when elected mayor of Annapolis Royal in 1984.

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Old Elizabeth - ca. 1765–1866 - Preacher and Ninety-Seven-Year-Old Memoirist

Old Elizabeth, author of the 1863 chronicle Memoir of Old Elizabeth, a Coloured Woman, was born into slavery in Maryland around 1765. Like many enslaved people, she was denied both a last name and education, yet her memoir is one of the oldest surviving slave narratives by a woman from the antebellum period.

At about eleven years old, Elizabeth was sold away from her family. Longing to see her mother, she defied her new owner and walked nearly twenty miles back to the old farm, only to be severely whipped upon her return. The trauma from this event pushed her into deep emotional and mental suffering. At the height of this despair, Elizabeth reported having a celestial or divine vision, which she considered her direct calling from God to the ministry.

Elizabeth was eventually sold to a Presbyterian minister who freed her at age thirty. She aspired to be a traveling preacher, but faced skepticism and rejection for being both a woman and unable to read. Despite official church opposition, she led prayer meetings in homes and traveled through Virginia, Maryland, Michigan, and even Canada to share the gospel. Her passionate sermons moved audiences of all backgrounds; one white listener, so affected by her preaching, offered her money for her journey home.

Elizabeth settled in Michigan before moving to Philadelphia at age eighty-seven. At ninety-seven, she dictated her brief but powerful memoir—the rare, early firsthand account of an enslaved woman’s experience and spiritual journey.

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Susie King Taylor - August 6, 1848 – October 6, 1912 - Civil War Nurse, Educator, and Memoirist

Susie King Taylor was born into slavery in Savannah, Georgia, in 1848. Despite harsh laws forbidding the education of enslaved people, her grandmother and secret schools ensured she learned to read and write—a rare achievement for an enslaved girl in the Deep South. By age seven, Susie attended clandestine classes, and in April 1862, at just fourteen, she escaped to Union-occupied St. Simons Island, Georgia, with her family.

Recognized for her literacy and intelligence, she quickly became the first Black teacher in a publicly funded freedmen’s school in Georgia, instructing both children and adults newly freed from bondage. She later married Edward King, a Black noncommissioned officer in the 33rd U.S. Colored Troops.

During the Civil War, Susie King Taylor served as a nurse, laundress, and teacher for the 33rd U.S. Colored Troops. Her work—unpaid—included tending the wounded, managing supplies, and teaching soldiers to read and write in the camps. Susie’s dedication spanned four years and three months, during which she witnessed not only the horrors of war but also the resilience and humanity of those fighting for freedom.

In 1902, Susie published her memoir, Reminiscences of My Life in Camp with the 33d United States Colored Troops. It remains the only firsthand Civil War account written by a Black woman and is invaluable for its insight into both the daily realities and aspirations of Black soldiers and communities during Reconstruction. In her writing, Susie spoke candidly of racist violence and injustice—the realities of Reconstruction and Jim Crow—and the enduring importance of education and mutual aid.

After the war, she continued to advocate for education and Black veterans’ rights. Susie King Taylor died in Boston in 1912. A hundred-plus years on, we celebrate her legacy of service, resilience—and the power of telling your story.

What These Women Knew, and What We Must Remember

Elizabeth, Rose, and Susie’s legacies live in every one of us who continues to speak truth to power, who teaches while continually learning, or who writes her own story instead of letting others tell it. Let’s honor them through our perseverance and support of others!

Postscript: Who Were the Loyalists?

These were American colonists who stayed loyal to Britain during the American Revolution. The British promised freedom for any Black person who supported the Crown during the Revolution, and so after the war, many formerly enslaved Black Loyalists migrated to places like Nova Scotia, Canada. Though they faced discrimination, they were free! And they helped build that nation.

Here a few others:

• Mary Perth: c. 1740s–c. 1813 - One of the founding members of Birchtown, Nova Scotia. She later moved to Sierra Leone, where she became a successful businesswoman and community leader.
• Measha Brueggergosman: 1977–present – a renowned Canadian opera singer and descendant of Black Loyalists who settled in New Brunswick. Her story brings attention to the continuing legacy of Black Loyalists in Canada.
• Sarah Colley: Active late 18th–early 19th centuries An early Black Loyalist settler in Nova Scotia, documented as a landowner in Birchtown; her descendants continue the legacy.

As wonderful as it is to celebrate history, the reality for Black Canadians in Nova Scotia is no paradise: The community is centered in Halifax, numbering over 28,000 residents today. Despite educational strides and growing civic engagement, Black Nova Scotians still face notable economic and housing disparities: 43% earn less than $20,000/year (vs. 31% for non-minority residents—this is Canadian dollars), and rates of inadequate housing are nearly double the provincial average.

While wage and employment gaps are slowly shrinking, Black Nova Scotians continue to earn 85 cents for every dollar earned by others, with higher gaps seen in those holding degrees. Ongoing efforts focus on closing these gaps and celebrating Black heritage and culture.

I like seeing this 2018 Rose Fortune postage stamp. We are not going to see any Black woman (or probably any woman of color) on a US postage stamp for the near future, alas.

And... what, you ask, is Birchtown? This is a historic settlement in Nova Scotia, Canada, founded in 1783 by Black Loyalists—freed African Americans who supported the British during the American Revolution. It became the largest community of free Black people in North America, and today it’s honored by the Black Loyalist Heritage Centre.

Finally, what is an “OG”? OG stands for “Original Gangster,” early hip hop slang for someone who’s a pioneer or originator, or a highly respected “oldster” who paved the way for others. Rapper Ice T—known to non-hip-hop fans for his role as Sergeant Odafin “Fin” Tutuola on Law & Order: SVU, a part he’s played since 2000— is considered the first person to use the term in his 1991 track “O.G.: Original Gangster.”

More in two weeks! Stay strong and resolute!

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