A New Tribute to a Trailblazing Abolitionist: Germantown School Unveils Mural Honoring Frances Ellen Watkins Harper on 200th Birthday
A vibrant mural has been unveiled at the Greene Street Friends School in Philadelphia's Germantown neighborhood, celebrating the life and legacy of renowned poet and abolitionist Frances Ellen Watkins Harper. The artwork, titled "Frances E. W. Harper: We Are All Bound Up Together," marks a significant milestone – the 200th anniversary of Harper's birthday.
This poignant tribute features Harper alongside other prominent Philadelphia-based abolitionists Harriet Forten Purvis and Nannie Helen Burroughs. The mural also includes references to some of Harper's most celebrated poems, paying homage to her remarkable literary contributions. The project is the result of a collaborative effort between Mural Arts Philadelphia, Penn State University's Center for Black Digital Research, and the Greene Street Friends School community.
Harper, who first moved to Philadelphia at 28, became a vocal advocate for the abolition of slavery and women's rights. She co-founded the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs and played a pivotal role in supporting suffragist organizations. Her remarkable legacy extends beyond her writing; she also donated profits from her lectures to the Underground Railroad.
The unveiling event marked the culmination of Mural Arts Philadelphia's month-long celebration of the city's artistic history, which featured walking tours, poetry readings, and exhibitions from local artists. The theme, "Voices of Philly," highlighted the significance of Harper's contributions and how they continue to inspire future generations.
"This project is more than just a tribute to Frances Harper – it's an opportunity for our students to learn about courage, conviction, and creativity," said Michelle Holland, head of school at Greene Street Friends School. "We are honored to have Ursula Rucker, Athena Scott, and their teams bring Harper's story to life through this powerful mural."
Gabrielle Foreman, a MacArthur fellow and co-director of the Center for Black Digital Research, noted that Harper was a trailblazing figure who paved the way for future generations. "We are honored to work with Mural Arts Philadelphia to keep Harper's legacy alive in Philadelphia," Foreman said.
The mural now stands as a testament to Harper's enduring impact and serves as a reminder of the importance of fighting for justice, integrity, and equity.
A vibrant mural has been unveiled at the Greene Street Friends School in Philadelphia's Germantown neighborhood, celebrating the life and legacy of renowned poet and abolitionist Frances Ellen Watkins Harper. The artwork, titled "Frances E. W. Harper: We Are All Bound Up Together," marks a significant milestone – the 200th anniversary of Harper's birthday.
This poignant tribute features Harper alongside other prominent Philadelphia-based abolitionists Harriet Forten Purvis and Nannie Helen Burroughs. The mural also includes references to some of Harper's most celebrated poems, paying homage to her remarkable literary contributions. The project is the result of a collaborative effort between Mural Arts Philadelphia, Penn State University's Center for Black Digital Research, and the Greene Street Friends School community.
Harper, who first moved to Philadelphia at 28, became a vocal advocate for the abolition of slavery and women's rights. She co-founded the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs and played a pivotal role in supporting suffragist organizations. Her remarkable legacy extends beyond her writing; she also donated profits from her lectures to the Underground Railroad.
The unveiling event marked the culmination of Mural Arts Philadelphia's month-long celebration of the city's artistic history, which featured walking tours, poetry readings, and exhibitions from local artists. The theme, "Voices of Philly," highlighted the significance of Harper's contributions and how they continue to inspire future generations.
"This project is more than just a tribute to Frances Harper – it's an opportunity for our students to learn about courage, conviction, and creativity," said Michelle Holland, head of school at Greene Street Friends School. "We are honored to have Ursula Rucker, Athena Scott, and their teams bring Harper's story to life through this powerful mural."
Gabrielle Foreman, a MacArthur fellow and co-director of the Center for Black Digital Research, noted that Harper was a trailblazing figure who paved the way for future generations. "We are honored to work with Mural Arts Philadelphia to keep Harper's legacy alive in Philadelphia," Foreman said.
The mural now stands as a testament to Harper's enduring impact and serves as a reminder of the importance of fighting for justice, integrity, and equity.
this tribute is actually kinda like a mini-debate about representation & inclusion in art museums 
they're finally highlighting a black female abolitionist who's been overlooked for too long 
but shouldn't we be asking why it took them 200 years to even acknowledge her contributions? 
and what about the power dynamics at play here - is this mural just another way of co-opting black cultural heritage or can it actually spark a conversation about systemic injustices? 
! its a tribute 2 frances elen watkins harper, an abolitionist & poet who was literally a trailblazer 4 her time 
. i mean, she was all about fightin 4 justice & equality, especially 4 women's rights & endin slavery. her legacy is still sooo inspirin 2day! u gotta check out the mural its got harper & other philly-based abolitionists on it 
. its like, who knew philly had such a rich history of fightin 4 what's right? 
. anyhoo, its dope to see ppl still celebratin her life & work after all these yrs 
! But, you know, it also makes me think about how we're still dealing with a lot of issues that Harper fought against 200 years ago 
. I mean, women's rights and racial equality are still major problems in our society today. It's crazy to think that someone who was so ahead of their time is only getting more recognition now 
.
. The fact that a school is partnering with local artists and organizations to create something like this is just incredible 
. It's proof that we can make a difference when we work together towards a common goal 
.
. Okay, so there's still room for improvement, but overall, I'm feeling pretty optimistic about this one 
guess what's missing here? Real-life conversations 
not all of us can just participate in a fancy online event and pretend it's the same as actually talking to each other face-to-face 
. I mean, she was such an important figure in history, fighting for women's rights and abolition 
. It's just a great way to keep her story alive and inspire future generations 
.
!! i'm all about paying respects 2 ppl who paved the way 4 us, n frances elLEN watkins harper is def one of dem 
she was a total boss - fought 4 abolition, women's rights, & even donated her profits 2 the underground railroad 
what i love most about this mural is how it highlights her creativity & courage 
she was literally the queen of everything 
It just goes to show how art can really make a difference and bring people together. 
, I mean have you read her poetry? 
. and can we talk about how awesome it is that Mural Arts Philly and Penn State University teamed up on this project? 
63% of Black women in Philadelphia were employed during the Reconstruction era thanks to Harper's advocacy 