In the heart of Brooklyn, parks and schools bear the names of Sarah J. S. Tompkins Garnet and Dr. Susan Smith McKinney Steward—two pioneering Black women who left an indelible mark on education, medicine, and civil rights. Their story is deeply intertwined with Brooklyn’s historic Weeksville community, a beacon of Black excellence in the 19th century.
Who Were Sarah Garnet and Dr. Susan McKinney Steward?
Dr. Susan Smith McKinney Steward: New York’s First Black Female Doctor
Dr. Susan Smith McKinney Steward broke barriers as the first Black female physician in New York state. She graduated as valedictorian of medical school and opened a prosperous practice in Brooklyn, specializing in childhood diseases.
- She worked as a teacher to pay for medical school before earning her degree.
- Co-founded a hospital to improve healthcare for marginalized communities.
- Traveled to London in 1911 to speak at the Universal Races Congress, promoting racial harmony.
- Married Theophilus Gould Steward, a Buffalo Soldier in the first all-Black U.S. Army regiment.
Dr. McKinney Steward’s legacy continued through her great-granddaughter Ellen Holly, who became America’s first Black soap opera star.
Sarah J. S. Tompkins Garnet: NYC’s First Black Female Principal
Sarah Garnet paved the way for Black women in education as New York City’s first Black female public school principal.
- She was a leader in the Women’s Suffrage movement and co-founded the Equal Suffrage League in the 1880s.
- She dedicated her life to advocating for racial and gender equality.
- Alongside her sister, she traveled to London in 1911 to participate in the Universal Races Congress.
Their Roots in Weeksville: Brooklyn’s Historic Black Community
The sisters grew up in Weeksville, one of the first free Black communities in the U.S., founded in the 1830s.
- Their father, Sylvanus Smith, was a prosperous hog farmer who helped build the self-sustaining community.
- Weeksville was a hub of Black empowerment, with businesses, schools, and churches dedicated to uplifting African Americans.
According to Dominique Jean-Louis, chief historian at the Brooklyn Public Library’s Center for Brooklyn History:
“The world they grew up in was about Black uplift—not just personal success, but lifting up their entire community.”
A Lasting Legacy
Sarah Garnet and Dr. McKinney Steward’s contributions to education, healthcare, and civil rights are now honored in Brooklyn’s schools, parks, and historic sites. Their graves rest side by side in Brooklyn’s Green-Wood Cemetery, symbolizing their lifelong commitment to justice, equality, and community empowerment.
