The Life and Times of Alexander Twilight

Winner of the 2023 Independent Publishers of New England Book Award in the Young Adult Category

Since 2020 Alexander Twilight Day has been celebrated as a state holiday in Vermont. Who is Alexander Twilight and how did he achieve this unique honor? Twilight was born in Vermont in 1795 and became an indentured servant at the age of eleven to help alleviate his family’s financial situation. From these humble beginnings he went on to get his education and achieve his goals through hard work and a strong sense of purpose. In 1823, when he completed his course of study at Middlebury College, he became the first person of African heritage to graduate from an American college. In this graphic biography, the story of Alexander Twilight and 19th Century Vermont is brought to life through visual storytelling – a format that is accessible to all ages. This work covers Twilight’s early years to his notable career as a teacher, principal, minister, and first American of Black ancestry elected to a state legislature.

Beloved by his students and respected by many in the community who recognized his extraordinary contributions to education Twilight nevertheless came into conflict with those who did not share his vision and balked at his his strong will and determination. An innovator, educator, and devoted minister and legislator, he is perhaps best known for building a four-story granite dormitory for his students that has become the cornerstone of the present Old Stone House Museum and Historic Village in Brownington, Vermont.