Duty to Intervene: The Wisdom of Miss Addie Brown on the Campus of Miss Porter’s School, 1867

Thank you to Dr. Windsor for inviting me to speak today as we launch the 2021-22 school year.

Perhaps it is fitting to begin the new year by sharing a lesson from someone who, in a way, was a new girl at Miss Porter's School more than 150 years ago. Her name was Miss Addie Brown, and the "Miss" is important because, as a Black woman born in 1841, she relished the honorific that was too often denied her. Miss Brown, a seamstress and cook, arrived to work at Miss Porter's in the spring of 1867.

The United States was in disarray then, much like today, with debates rising over lynchings, voting rights, and a cholera pandemic. Thus, Miss Addie Brown has much to teach us about duty in a time of disarray.

Letter from Miss Addie Brown.

In May of 1867, upon arriving at campus, Miss Brown excitedly wrote to her romantic companion, Rebecca, that she had free access to the two campus libraries. She also shared her observations about the students, noting, "Last night I saw the young ladies dance, not many of them graceful." Brown later gave some of the girls dance lessons.

Farah Jasmine Griffin's book, Beloved Sisters and Loving Friends, describes Miss Brown as well-loved by the students on campus. Its letters also reveal that there was at least one Black child living on campus in 1867. Her name was Sarah Sands, the daughter of the head cook, Thomas Sands. Brown seemed fond of little Sarah Sands, as her name appears often in Brown's letters. A letter written in December of 1867 revealed Brown's character as a caretaker, a role model for us all.

This particular letter recounted a masquerade ball hosted on campus. One of Porter's students arrived at the ball in blackface, depicting the character Topsy, a disheveled enslaved child. In her letter describing the scene, Brown writes, "Was not going to let Sarah see them." These few words portray Brown as a protector, a woman who, despite limited societal power, takes a powerful stance to shield a child from racism.

If Miss Addie Brown could do this, why can't we all?

This summer, as I read the Black@Porter's and unheard@Porter's social media accounts, I was struck by the number of times students sought intervention against bigotry, and no one intervened. I too know the feeling of being targeted by white supremacy and waiting for self-appointed allies to help, only to be met with silence and deflection. These situations, while difficult, pale in comparison to the immense hopelessness felt by George Floyd and Breonna Taylor during their struggles to live. Partly due to these killings, there are nationwide discussions about duty to intervene policies. Such policies would compel other officers to step in when a colleague acts unethically.

Miss Addie Brown understood 153 years ago that we all have a responsibility to intervene and protect the vulnerable. Porter's girls and students, this year, your classmates are counting on you to uphold your responsibility to intervene. My fellow educators and administrators, I am counting on you to uphold your responsibility to intervene this year.

A play on the campus of Miss Porter’s School, Feb. 2020.

For women and girls, politeness can sometimes prevent us from speaking up. However, there is nothing polite about remaining silent in the face of prejudice. When a girl remains silent in the face of injustice, she prioritizes her ego over another's humanity.

This school year, as we teach and meet, I hope that we frequently pause to ask ourselves, “How might my actions land with the most vulnerable person among us?” I hope that we remember the wisdom of Miss Addie Brown, who 153 years ago, on this very campus, modeled the kind of steadfast caretakers that we all should be. And I hope that whenever we see injustice, in all of its many forms, we will, so help us, Miss Addie Brown, uphold our duty to intervene.

Dr. Cathryn Stout is a theology student and independent scholar of American cultural studies in Memphis, TN. To invest in her work and studies, visit https://cash.app/$DrCatStout or https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/CathrynStout.