Portraits
Fannie Barrier Williams of "Salt of the Earth, Light of the World: Sister" was born to a well-to-do African American family on Feb 12th, 1855- 46 years after Lincoln. It can be seen that her efforts helped to fulfill what Lincoln could have done if he was able to complete his presidency.
In Brockport, she grew up much like Susan B Anthony did amongst the Quakers- she was treated as an equal. After her graduation at Brockport Normal School in 1870, she made it her life’s work to create infrastructure for the many newly freed Americans after the Civil War, as there was great need for support systems.
Her proficiency in languages, music and portrait painting equipped her with the virtues of a liberal arts education. She developed skills in communication, the keen observation of humanity and an inherent sense of what will produce beauty and harmony within the individual and in society.
With the help of many hands, she addressed myriad aspects of life, highlighting the need for homemaking, family structure, temperance, liberal arts education, religion and politics (including the women’s right to vote.) She was a founder of Provident Hospital, a nursing school and the National League of Colored Women in 1893. Her wide social influence was interwoven with the efforts of leaders such as Susan B Anthony, Frederick Douglass, Booker T. Washington and WEB DuBois and many more. Much is yet to be rediscovered in FBW’s lectures and articles, as they explain the post Civil War roots of many present day social issues and how we can heal them now.
This sculpture is placed in the Fannie Barrier Williams building that was dedicated in her honor on October 6, 2022.
Commissioned by SUNY Brockport in Brockport, New York