Ann Plato was a 19th century mixed-race educator and author born in 1825 in Hartford, Connecticut. She was the second woman of color to publish a book in America called Essays: Including Biographies and Miscellaneous Pieces in Prose and Poetry in 1841 at the age of 16. The essays focused on topics like education, employment, religion and stressed the importance of education and leading a pious life. Plato taught at Free African Schools until 1847 but then no records exist of her life after the publication of her book.

1. Ann Plato

2. Born 1825-unknown in Hartford
a 19th-century mixed-race (African-
American and Native American)
educator and author.

3. The eldest daughter of Henry and
Deborah Plato.(Henry Plato- laborer,
Debroah Plato- seamstress)
one sister and one brother who died
young
She was the second woman of color
to publish a book in America and the
first to publish a book of essays and
poems

4. Reverend James W. C. Pennington
wrote of Plato: "My authoress is a
colored lady, a member of my church,
of pleasing piety and modest worth.“
Taught Free African Schools until 1847
 She was a member of the Talcott
Street Congregational Church in
Hartford.

6. 1841, at the age of 16
 She published her only known book,
entitled Essays: Including
Biographies and Miscellaneous Pieces
in Prose and Poetry.
Topics:
"Benevolence,“
"Education,"
"Employment"
"Religion."

7. The essays stressed
both the importance
of education and of
leading a pious,
industrious life. The
book also contained
some poetry and
biographies of
departed female
friends and
acquaintances.

8. Some critics from later
generations found Plato's essays
and poetry to be overly
moralizing as well as routine and
lacking in originality.
 Many of them also derided her
for not mentioning the issue of
slavery in America.

9. Nothing is known about Plato's
life after her book was published
in 1841.
The year of her death cannot be
found.

10. Saying

12. Ann Plato
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