Amanda America Dickson (November 20, 1849 – June 11, 1893) was an
African-American
African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from any of the Black racial groups of Africa. ...
socialite in
Georgia
Georgia most commonly refers to:
* Georgia (country), a country in the South Caucasus
* Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the southeastern United States
Georgia may also refer to:
People and fictional characters
* Georgia (name), a list of pe ...
who became known as one of the wealthiest African-American women of the 19th century after inheriting a large estate from her white
planter father.
Born into
slavery
Slavery is the ownership of a person as property, especially in regards to their labour. Slavery typically involves compulsory work, with the slave's location of work and residence dictated by the party that holds them in bondage. Enslavemen ...
, she was the child of David Dickson, a white
planter, and Julia Frances Lewis (Dickson), a girl he enslaved, who was thirteen when her daughter was born. Amanda was raised by Elizabeth Sholars Dickson, her white grandmother and legal mistress (owner). She was educated and schooled in the social skills of her father's class, and he helped her to enjoy a life of relative privilege away from the harsh realities of slavery before emancipation following the
American Civil War
The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...
. In her late 20s, Dickson attended the
normal school of
Atlanta University
Clark Atlanta University (CAU or Clark Atlanta) is a private, Methodist, historically black research university in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. It was founded on September19, 1865, as Atlanta University, it was the first HBCU in the Southe ...
, a
historically black college
Historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) are institutions of higher education in the United States that were established before the Civil Rights Act of 1964 with the intention of serving African Americans. Most are in the Southern U ...
, from 1876 to 1878.
After her father's death in 1885, Amanda Dickson inherited his
estate
Estate or The Estate may refer to:
Law
* Estate (law), a term in common law for a person's property, entitlements and obligations
* Estates of the realm, a broad social category in the histories of certain countries.
** The Estates, representativ ...
. His white relatives challenged the will but Dickson ultimately won a successful ruling in the case. His estate included 17,000 acres of land in
Hancock
Hancock may refer to:
Places
Places in the United States
* Hancock, Iowa
* Hancock, Maine
* Hancock, Maryland
* Hancock, Massachusetts
* Hancock, Michigan
* Hancock, Minnesota
* Hancock, Missouri
* Hancock, New Hampshire
** Hancock (CDP), New H ...
and
Washington
Washington most commonly refers to:
* George Washington (1732–1799), the first president of the United States
* Washington (state), a state in the Pacific Northwest of the United States
* Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States
** A ...
counties in Georgia. She married twice: Her first husband was white, while her second husband was wealthy, educated, and mixed-race.
Early life and education

Amanda America Dickson was born into slavery in
Hancock County, Georgia. Her enslaved mother, Julia Frances Lewis Dickson, was just 13 when she was born. Her father, David Dickson (1809–1885), was a white planter and slave
plantation owner
The planter class was a racial and socioeconomic class which emerged in the Americas during European colonization in the early modern period. Members of the class, most of whom were settlers of European descent, consisted of individuals who ow ...
who owned her mother; he was one of the eight wealthiest plantation owners in the county. When he was 40 years old, David Dickson
rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault involving sexual intercourse, or other forms of sexual penetration, carried out against a person without consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority, or against a person ...
d 12-year-old Julia Dickson, and she became pregnant.
After Amanda was weaned, she was taken from her enslaved mother and maternal grandmother, Rose, to be raised in the household of her owner, her white paternal grandmother Elizabeth Sholars Dickson. As Amanda grew, her grandmother used her as a domestic servant.
Throughout Amanda's childhood, her father became wealthier and more famous, renowned for his innovative and successful farming techniques. By 1861, he was known as the "Prince of Georgia Farmers," having contributed perhaps more than any other farmer in Georgia at that time to the financial prosperity of the region.
Amanda's father showered her with love and affection. Dickson's social status may have enabled the child to live a life of relative privilege while enslaved. Evidence suggests that David Dickson took charge of Amanda's education.
In her white grandmother's household, she learned to read, write, and play the piano, unlike what was permitted her enslaved relatives.
Amanda also learned rules of social etiquette appropriate for the social standing of her father's family. She learned to dress in a modest, elegant fashion and how to present herself as a "lady". Amanda also learned from her father how to conduct business transactions responsibly and how to maintain and protect her finances after marriage.
In 1864, Amanda's grandmother Elizabeth Sholars Dickson died. Amanda and her grandmother Elizabeth had shared a particularly close relationship, with Amanda spending much time in her grandmother's room. Amanda was legally held as Elizabeth's slave until her death.
Beginning in 1801, Georgia had prohibited slaveholders from independently freeing their slaves, requiring an act of legislature (seldom given), for each request. Therefore, Elizabeth and David Dickson had no means to
manumit
Manumission, or enfranchisement, is the act of freeing slaves by their owners. Different approaches to manumission were developed, each specific to the time and place of a particular society. Historian Verene Shepherd states that the most wi ...
Amanda and keep her with them in Georgia until the
Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
The Thirteenth Amendment (Amendment XIII) to the United States Constitution abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime. The amendment was passed by the Senate on April 8, 1864, by the House of Representative ...
, which abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, was ratified on December 6, 1865.
At the age of 27, Amanda chose to leave her father's plantation in Hancock County, Georgia to attend the
normal school of
Atlanta University
Clark Atlanta University (CAU or Clark Atlanta) is a private, Methodist, historically black research university in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. It was founded on September19, 1865, as Atlanta University, it was the first HBCU in the Southe ...
, where she studied teaching from 1876 to 1878.
Marriages

In 1866, at the age of sixteen, Amanda America moved to a small plantation in
Floyd County, Georgia
Floyd County is a county in the Northwest region of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 98,584.US 2020 Census Bureau report, Floyd County, Georgia The county seat is Rome. Floyd County comprises t ...
near the city of
Rome
Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...
. She married (or lived with as if she were married to) Charles Eubanks, a white first-cousin and Civil War veteran.
Because of
laws against inter-racial marriage in Georgia at the time, Amanda America and Charles, as an interracial couple, could not legally marry in Georgia. Therefore, they either never officially married, or they married out of state before returning to Georgia (but there is no surviving proof of a legal marriage.)
They had two sons: Julian Henry (1866–1937) and Charles Green Eubanks (1870–c. 1900). Their mixed-race sons later married prominent members of Georgia society. Julian Henry Eubanks married Eva Walton, the granddaughter of
George Walton
George Walton ( – February 2, 1804) was a Founding Father of the United States who signed the United States Declaration of Independence while representing Georgia in the Continental Congress. Walton also served briefly as the second chief ex ...
, who signed the
American Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence, formally The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen States of America in the original printing, is the founding document of the United States. On July 4, 1776, it was adopted unanimously by the Second Continen ...
.
Charles Green Eubanks married Kate Holsey, the daughter of Lucius Holsey, a bishop in the
Colored Methodist Episcopal Church
The Christian Methodist Episcopal Church (C.M.E.C.) is a Methodist denomination that is based in the United States. It adheres to Wesleyan-Arminian theology. Though historically a part of the black church, the Christian Methodist Episcopal church ...
, and his wife Harriet. After four years of being married to (or living as a married couple with) Charles Eubanks, Amanda left her husband and returned to her father's plantation in 1870, shortly after giving birth to her second son, Charles Green.
Charles Eubanks died a few years later on July 31, 1873. David Dickson's wife, Clara Harris Dickson, died the next day.
Years after having completed her teaching degree, Amanda America married a second time, on July 14, 1892. Her second husband was Nathan Toomer from
Perry, Georgia
Perry is a city in Houston County, Georgia, Houston and Peach County, Georgia, Peach counties in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. It is the county seat of Houston County. The population was 13,839 at the 2010 census, up from 9,60 ...
, and she legally was known as Amanda America Dickson Toomer.
Nathan Toomer was a wealthy, educated
African-American
African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from any of the Black racial groups of Africa. ...
man of her class. He was the child of an enslaved black woman, Kit, and was ultimately bought by wealthy white John Toomer, who had settled in
Houston County, Georgia
Houston County ( ) is a county located in the central portion of the U.S. state of Georgia. The population was 163,633 at the 2020 census. Its county seat is Perry; the city of Warner Robins is substantially larger in both area and populati ...
in the 1850s. As a young man, Nathan had served as the personal assistant to then-owner Colonel Henry Toomer, and in that capacity learned the ways of white upper-class gentlemen.
Amanda died on June 11, 1893, eleven months after they were married.
David Dickson's will
When David Dickson died suddenly on February 18, 1885,
Amanda America Dickson inherited the majority of his vast estate, which included 17,000 acres of land. His will left his estate to her "sound judgment and unlimited discretion" and prohibited interference from anyone, including any husband that she may have.
In what became known as the David Dickson Will Case, 79 white relatives of David Dickson disputed the will in court, mainly arguing that David Dickson was not of a sound mind when he wrote the will, that he was "unduly influenced" by Amanda America and Julia Dickson, and that Amanda America was not his child.
On July 6, 1885,
probate judge
A probate court (sometimes called a surrogate court) is a court that has competence in a jurisdiction to deal with matters of probate and the administration of estates. In some jurisdictions, such courts may be referred to as orphans' courts o ...
R. H. Lewis ruled in favor of the will.
In November 1885, the trial in the Superior Court of Hancock County began, with the eventual ruling siding with Amanda America Dickson and her two sons.
Then, in March 1886, the white relatives filed their appeal with the
Supreme Court of Georgia.
On October 11, 1886, chief justice James Jackson, and associate justices Samuel Hall and Mark Blanford heard the case following the appeal.
James Jackson expressed his firm conviction against upholding the will, saying, "I would rather die in my place than uphold the will." A few days later, he became ill with
pneumonia
Pneumonia is an Inflammation, inflammatory condition of the lung primarily affecting the small air sacs known as Pulmonary alveolus, alveoli. Symptoms typically include some combination of Cough#Classification, productive or dry cough, ches ...
and died.
Judge
Logan E. Bleckley filled his vacancy and refused to hear the case again. Associate justices Samuel Hall and Mark Blanford remained to deliver the ruling regarding whether the white relatives would receive a new trial. Ultimately, eight months later, on June 13, 1887, Samuel Hall and Mark Blanford of the Georgia Supreme Court also ruled in favor of Amanda America and her two sons, formally settling the dispute of David Dickson's will. Citing the
Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, the Georgia Supreme Court affirmed the lower court's decision, saying that the rights and privileges of a black woman and her children would be the same rights and privileges of a white
concubine
Concubinage is an interpersonal relationship, interpersonal and Intimate relationship, sexual relationship between two people in which the couple does not want to, or cannot, enter into a full marriage. Concubinage and marriage are often regarde ...
or an
illegitimate
Legitimacy, in traditional Western common law, is the status of a child born to parents who are legally married to each other, and of a child conceived before the parents obtain a legal divorce.
Conversely, ''illegitimacy'', also known as ''b ...
white woman and her children. So, the same laws governed the rights and privileges of women of both races.
Life in Augusta, Georgia
The death of Amanda American Dickson's father, David Dickson, on February 18, 1885, marked a significant turning point in her life. Following his passing, Amanda took immediate legal steps to secure her position and inheritance.
To further protect herself and distance from her disgruntled white relatives-many of whom had been left out of David Dickson's will-Amanda relocated to
Augusta, Georgia
Augusta is a city on the central eastern border of the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. The city lies directly across the Savannah River from North Augusta, South Carolina at the head of its navigable portion. Augusta, the third mos ...
, a city she was already familiar with.
In 1886, she settled in Augusta and purchased an impressive seven-bedroom home at 452
Telfair Street, located in a diverse, multiracial neighborhood.
During this era, white Georgians often viewed Black citizens through the rigid lens of the racial caste system, with little regard for wealth or class.
However individuals like Amanda, the children of wealthy white planters-especially those with lighter skin-were sometimes more accepted by white society.
Despite these challenges, Amanda became an integral part of Augusta's elite black community, where she was admired for her considerable wealth, refined elegance, and keen intelligence. Those that knew her held her in the highest regard, recognizing her as a symbol of grace and resilience in a deeply divided society.
Family ordeal
Amanda America Dickson spent the last eleven months of her life married to Nathan Toomer, a native of
Perry, Georgia
Perry is a city in Houston County, Georgia, Houston and Peach County, Georgia, Peach counties in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. It is the county seat of Houston County. The population was 13,839 at the 2010 census, up from 9,60 ...
. The couple wed on July 14, 1892.
Unfortunately, Amanda's health was fragile throughout her second marriage, requiring constant medical attention from their family physician, Dr. Thomas D. Coleman.
By 1893, Amanda's condition had shown significant improvement, but a disturbing family incident caused her health to decline again, ultimately leading to her death. The incident involved her younger son, 23-year-old Charles Dickson, who was married to Kate Holsey. Charles became infatuated with stepsister, 14-year-old Mamie Toomer. To protect Mamie from Charles' inappropriate attentions, Nathan and Amanda took her to the St. Francis School and Convent in
Baltimore, Maryland
Baltimore is the List of municipalities in Maryland, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland. With a population of 585,708 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census and estimated at 568,271 in 2024, it is the List of United States ...
, which was run by an order of black nuns.
However, Charles Dickson conspired with several accomplices, including his brother-in-law Dunbar Walton, his sister-in-law Carrie Walton Wilson, and a hired man, Louis E. Frank, to kidnap Mamie Toomer. Their plan was thwarted, and Walton, Frank, and their lawyer, E. J. Waring, were indicted by a Baltimore grand jury on charges of conspiracy to kidnap. Despite his involvement, Charles Dickson faced no legal consequences for his actions.
The stress and anxiety stemming from this incident, combined with Amanda's preexisting health conditions, caused her health to deteriorate further, leading to her untimely passing later that year.
Death
In June 1893, following the resolution of the kidnapping incident involving Mamie Toomer, Charles Dickson, and his co-conspirators. Nathan and Amanda America purchased first-class tickets from a representative of the
Pullman Palace Car Company
The Pullman Company, founded by George Pullman, was a manufacturer of railroad cars in the mid-to-late 19th century through the first half of the 20th century, during the boom of railroads in the United States. Through rapid late-19th century d ...
for their journey from
Baltimore, Maryland
Baltimore is the List of municipalities in Maryland, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland. With a population of 585,708 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census and estimated at 568,271 in 2024, it is the List of United States ...
, back to
Augusta, Georgia
Augusta is a city on the central eastern border of the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. The city lies directly across the Savannah River from North Augusta, South Carolina at the head of its navigable portion. Augusta, the third mos ...
. However, due to
racial discrimination
Racial discrimination is any discrimination against any individual on the basis of their Race (human categorization), race, ancestry, ethnicity, ethnic or national origin, and/or Human skin color, skin color and Hair, hair texture. Individuals ...
, they were denied their first-class accommodations and the opportunity for direct, unimpeded travel to Augusta.
The delays and conditions of the Pullman car, particularly the rising temperatures, became intolerable for Amanda America, causing her health to rapidly decline.
On the morning of June 9, 1893, Dr. F. D. Kendall, examined Amanda. While he noted that her heart and lungs appeared healthy, she was visibly nervous and eager to return home. He administered her
anodyne
An anodyne is a drug used to lessen pain through reducing the sensitivity of the brain or nervous system. The term was common in medicine before the 20th century, but such drugs are now more often known as analgesics or painkillers.
The term ' ...
, a medication to relieve pain.
That afternoon, Nathan and a gravely ill Amanda America finally arrived at their home in Augusta, Georgia between four and five o'clock.
Dr. Eugene Foster attended to her in the absence of their family physician, Thomas D. Coleman.
She was diagnosed with
neurasthenia
Neurasthenia ( and () 'weak') is a term that was first used as early as 1829 for a mechanical weakness of the nerves. It became a major diagnosis in North America during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries after neurologist Georg ...
, also known as Beard's disease, a condition characterized as a general exhaustion of the nervous system. Symptoms of neurasthenia included severe headache, insomnia, digestive disturbances, and nervous exhaustion. "
Unfortunately, Amanda America Dickson Toomer passed away on June 11, 1893. The official cause of death listed on her certificate was "complications of diseases."
Her funeral was held at the Trinity Colored Methodist Episcopal Church in Augusta, Georgia.
Amanda passed away without leaving a will, which led to a legal dispute over her estate. Both her mother, Julia Frances Lewis Dickson, and her second husband, Nathan Toomer, petitioned the court to be named temporary administrator.
Eventually, an agreement was reached outside of court between Julia Dickson, Nathan Toomer, and Amanda's younger son, Charles Dickson.
Nine months after Amanda's death, Nathan Toomer remarried Nina Pinchback, the daughter of
P. B. S. Pinchback
Pinckney Benton Stewart Pinchback (May 10, 1837 – December 21, 1921) was an American publisher, politician, and Union Army officer who served as Governor of Louisiana from December 9, 1872 to January 13, 1873. Pinchback is commonly referr ...
, a notable
Reconstruction Era
The Reconstruction era was a period in History of the United States, US history that followed the American Civil War (1861-65) and was dominated by the legal, social, and political challenges of the Abolitionism in the United States, abol ...
senator-elect from Louisiana. On December 26, 1894, Nathan and Nina welcomed a son,
Jean Toomer
Jean Toomer (born Nathan Pinchback Toomer; December 26, 1894 – March 30, 1967) was an American poet and novelist commonly associated with modernism and the Harlem Renaissance, though he actively resisted the latter association. His reputati ...
, who would later gain fame as a
Harlem Renaissance
The Harlem Renaissance was an intellectual and cultural revival of African-American music, dance, art, fashion, literature, theater, politics, and scholarship centered in Harlem, Manhattan, New York City, spanning the 1920s and 1930s. At the ti ...
writer, best known for his modernist novel ''
Cane
Cane or caning may refer to:
*Walking stick, or walking cane, a device used primarily to aid walking
* Assistive cane, a walking stick used as a mobility aid for better balance
* White cane, a mobility or safety device used by blind or visually i ...
'' (1923).
Representation in popular culture
''A House Divided'' (2000) is the
television movie
A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie, telefilm, telemovie or TV film/movie, is a film with a running time similar to a feature film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a Terrestr ...
that depicts the life of Amanda America Dickson. It stars
Jennifer Beals
Jennifer Beals (born December 19, 1963) is an American actress. She made her film debut in ''My Bodyguard'' (1980), before receiving critical acclaim for her performance as Alexandra Owens in ''Flashdance'' (1983), for which she won NAACP Image ...
as Dickson,
Sam Waterston
Samuel Atkinson Waterston (born November 15, 1940) is an American actor. Waterston is known for his work in theater, television, and film. He has received numerous accolades including a Primetime Emmy Award, Golden Globe Award, and Screen Actor ...
as David Dickson,
LisaGay Hamilton
LisaGay Hamilton (born 1964) is an American actress who has portrayed roles in films, television, and on stage. She is best known for her role as secretary/lawyer Rebecca Washington on the ABC legal drama ''The Practice'' (1997–2003). She als ...
as Julia Frances Lewis Dickson, and
Shirley Douglas
Shirley Jean Douglas (April 2, 1934 – April 5, 2020) was a Canadian actress. Her acting career combined with her family name made her recognizable in Canadian film, television and national politics.
Early life
Douglas was born April 2, 1934, ...
as Elizabeth Sholars Dickson.
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dickson, Amanda America
1849 births
1893 deaths
People from Augusta, Georgia
Atlanta University alumni
19th-century American slaves
American socialites
19th-century American women landowners
19th-century American landowners
19th-century African-American women
19th-century African-American businesspeople
19th-century American businesspeople
Literate American slaves
Free people of color
American women slaves
People enslaved in Georgia (U.S. state)