Born: 1864 (Nashville, Tennessee)
Died: 1954
Biography:
Juno Frankie Pierce, also known as Frankie Pierce or J. Frankie Pierce (c. 1864 – 1954), was an American educator and suffragist. Born in Nashville, Tennessee, around 1864, Pierce faced the challenges and injustices of racial inequality from an early age. Her father, Frank Seay, was a freedman, while her mother, Nellie Seay, had been a house slave to a prominent congressman. Despite these difficult circumstances, Pierce persevered and became a pioneer in the fight for women’s rights and education for black girls.
Pierce received her education at the John G. McKee Freedmen’s School, a Presbyterian mission school. In pursuit of further education, she attended Roger Williams University in Nashville. Pierce’s passion for education led her to become a teacher at Bellview School, a public school for black children. However, she faced further hardships when she moved to Paris, Texas, with her husband, Clement J. Pierce. After her husband’s death, Pierce returned to Nashville and lived with her mother, Nellie Seay.
In Nashville, Pierce became actively involved in various organizations and clubs focused on improving the lives of black women and children. She was a founder and served as the president of the Negro Women’s Reconstruction League. Pierce also played a key role in establishing the Nashville Federation of Colored Women’s Clubs and served on the first Management Committee of the Blue Triangle League of the YWCA. Through these clubs, Pierce and her fellow activists fought for social justice, advocating for better schools, child care, and settlement houses.
One of Pierce’s significant achievements was her instrumental role in establishing the Tennessee Vocational School for Colored Girls. Prior to the school’s establishment, black children who were deemed delinquent had limited options for education, often leading to their incarceration. Pierce, along with the clubs she was involved in, lobbied for legislation to create a state-supported vocational school. Working alongside Fisk University’s registrar, Minnie Lou Crosthwaite, Pierce successfully advocated for the bill’s passage.
The Tennessee General Assembly passed the bill on April 7, 1921, following the passage of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote nationwide. The Tennessee Vocational School for Colored Girls opened its doors on October 8, 1923, in Nashville. Pierce assumed the position of superintendent and held it until 1939. The school provided academic and vocational training to girls aged 12–15, offering them opportunities for personal and professional growth.
Pierce’s dedication to education and social justice had a lasting impact on her community. She courageously advocated for equal rights and educational opportunities for black girls, setting an example for future generations. Her efforts in establishing the school and fighting for women’s suffrage contributed significantly to the advancement of women’s rights and racial equality in Tennessee. Pierce’s legacy continues to inspire and empower women in their pursuit of education and social justice.