A Tribute to Susan T. King
Presented at the Bearman Gallery | Frederick Douglass–Isaac Myers Museum
July 9 – September 30, 2026
Curated by Kibibi Ajanku & The Black Art Today Foundation
Sponsored by Living Classrooms Foundation
She was called Susie as a child—a young girl from Kilmarnock, Virginia, born on July 13, 1924, who would grow into one of Baltimore’s most extraordinary women.
After graduating from Frederick Douglass High School in 1942, Susie stepped directly into a nation at war. She trained as an aircraft riveter and was hired by Eastern Aircraft in Baltimore County. As one of only a few African Americans on the factory floor—and fewer still as an actual riveter—she helped assemble the very planes that defended freedom during World War II. Today, she stands proudly among the women history honors as the Rosie the Riveters.
Driven by an unyielding desire to uplift herself and her family, Mrs. King went on to attend Hampton University and earned degrees from both Morgan State University and Coppin State University, continuing a proud family HBCU legacy. She then devoted her career to the Baltimore City Public Schools as a dedicated science teacher and guidance counselor, carrying the same grit and determination from the factory floor straight into the classroom. A Congressional Gold Medal recipient, a woman of profound faith and community, and a centenarian whose impact endures through scholarships in her name, Mrs. Susan T. King is, in every sense, a living legend.
Susie’s Steel & Spirit is a vibrant tribute to a living woman. In celebration of her 102nd year, a premier collective of visual storytellers from across the African Diaspora has gathered to reflect her enduring light, strength, and legacy. Through diverse textures, colors, and media, these artists capture Mrs. King’s dual essence: the “steel” of her groundbreaking labor and the “spirit” of her lifelong devotion to education, faith, and community.
This visual honor guard features original works by:
Alma Roberts, Anita Henley Carrington, Ashley Joi Summers, Janet B. Waters, Janice MacLean, Karen Y. Buster, Kaylee Daryl, Keiona Clark, Kibibi Ajanku, Linda Mose Meadows, Marilyn Gates-Davis, Nicole Brooks, Suzette Royster, Tanya Bracey, Tinnetta Putney, Tracey Coleman, Dr. Yemonja Smalls, and Zsudayka Nzinga.
We invite you to experience this powerful creative dialogue—a testament to history, resilience, and a century of Black womanhood beautifully realized.
