Charlotte Forten
Charlotte Forten was an African-American teacher and abolitionist who wrote extensive diaries covering the Civil War and the post-war years.
Synopsis
Charlotte Forten was born on August 17, 1837, in Philadelphia, PA. She kept a diary of her involvement with the abolition movement and became the first African-American hired to teach white students in Salem, MA. In 1862, Forten participated in the Port Royal Experiment, educating ex-slaves on St. Helena Island, South Carolina and recording her experiences in a series of essays. She died in 1914.