Makin’ An Impression: Sara Frances Mitchell

Depending on your generation, you may have never heard of Sara Frances Mitchell. Although scholars of African American history have recognized her involvement in Malcolm X’s Organization for Afro American Unity (OAAU), many people in her hometown, particularly newcomers or those born more recently, are unfamiliar with her life and work and its connection to Macon.

Born in 1934 to Henry Huey Mitchell, Sr., and Eddie Mae Mitchell (nee Greene), Sara grew up in the Fort Hill Community. She attended Ballard Hudson High School and went on to attend Knoxville College, a private liberal arts Historically Black College University (HBCU) located in Knoxville, TN. Growing up, Sara was known throughout the city for her beautiful soprano singing voice. Sometimes she was accompanied on the piano by her older sister, Shirley, and occassionally Shirley and Sara were joined by their younger sister, Ann, appearing as the Mitchell Sisters. According to the Macon Telegraph, Sara delivered a moving rendition of “I Want Jesus to Walk With Me” at a meeting at Greater Allen Chapel AME Church during the 1962 Macon bus boycott.

Sara Frances Mitchell is pictured here, third from the left. Undated photo courtesy of the McCrorey family.

While working at the New Yorker magazine, Mitchell became acquainted with Malcolm X. He was so impressed with her that he invited her to an upcoming rally sponsored by his new organization, the Organization for Afro-American Unity (OAAU). He encouraged her to listen to the organization’s message and to write a critique, showing how the organization could improve its message. Impressively, she responded with a 21-page document, outlining her points. Today, the document is included in the Malcolm X papers, which are housed at the New York Public Library’s Schomburg Center for Research for Research in Black Culture, where she is credited as being a major contributor to the collection. Mitchell became a charter member of the OAAU along with fellow Maconite and Harlem Renaissance writer, John Oliver Killens.

A photo of Sara Frances Mitchell sitting next to Dr. Betty Shabazz, the widow of Malcolm X when she was crowned Miss African during Harlem’s annual Marcus Garvey Day (c. 1966 -photo courtesy of Ann McCrorey)

In 1966, she was crowned “Miss Africa” during Harlem’s annual Marcus Garvey Day Celebration. Eventually, she returned to the middle Georgia area, where she enriched the lives of young people in Crisp, Peach, Bibb, Twiggs, and Peach counties as an educator. Shepherd of Black Sheep, which recalls the assassination of Malcolm X, was published in 1981.

Sara Frances Mitchell passed away on October 7, 2017, and was interred at Woodlawn Memorial Park in Macon, Georgia. She is fondly and dearly remembered by her family, friends, and community.

To learn more about Sara Frances Mitchell and her work with the OAAU see the following resources.
Felber, G. (2015). “Harlem is the Black World”: The Organization of Afro-American Unity at the Grassroots. The Journal of African American History, 100(2), 199–225. https://doi.org/10.5323/jafriamerhist.100.2.0199

Manion, J. L. (2016). Understanding Underlying Similarities in Civil Rights Philosophies: A Survey of the Memoirs of Coretta Scott King, Malcolm X, Anne Moody, John Howard Griffin, and Sara Mitchell Parsons.

Mitchell S. (1981). Shepherd of Black sheep : a commentary on the life of Malcolm X with an on the scene account of his assassination. Harriet Tubman Foundation.