Josephine Heard (1861-1921): Author Page
Josephine Delphine Henderson Heard (1861-1921) was born in Salisbury, North Carolina to enslaved parents Lafayette and Anne H. Henderson. Her parents ensured she received a good education, sending her to Scotia Seminary in Concord and later to Bethany Institute in New York. Her literary talents emerged early, with several of her poems published in religious periodicals during her secondary school years.
Heard’s career as a poet flourished alongside her work as a teacher in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. In South Carolina, she met and married William Henry Heard in 1882 who was born into slavery but worked to become a teacher, railway postal clerk, and minister in the African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church. The couple shared a love for adventure, traveling extensively across the United States, Europe, and Africa, where they lived for over eight years. They did not have any children; however, their life together was rich with shared experiences and contributions to their communities.
Josephine Heard’s poetry appeared in African American periodicals like A.M.E. Church Review, The New York Age, and The Colored American Magazine. Her poetry resonated with themes of racial pride, resilience, and faith. Her sole poetry collection, Morning Glories (1890), is a testament to her belief in the enduring strength and limitless potential of African Americans. The collection reflects her connection to her culture and her Christian faith, envisioning a future where her people will thrive through education and perseverance in spite of the backdrop of racism and post-emancipation challenges.
Works Cited
Before Harlem: An Anthology of African American Literature from the Long Nineteenth Century. United
States, University of Tennessee Press, 2016.
Women's Work: An Anthology of African-American Women's Historical Writings from Antebellum America
to the Harlem Renaissance. United Kingdom, OUP USA, 2010.