Samaria (Mitcham) Bailey is an African-American woman who is known as an instrumental figure in the civil rights movement. Bailey was one of the first to began desegregation at A. L. Miller Senior High School, an all-white female school located in Macon, Georgia. She would go on to become one of the first African American women accepted to Mercer University. She later became an accomplished pianist, and her story was adapted into a bestselling novel and a stage play.

Early life

She attended a traditionally black — and therefore coed — institution.

Desegregating Miller High School

Samaria was one of the only nonwhite students at Miller High. Still, Samaria was regarded as a good and intelligent young woman, and graduated with honors.

Tutoring Program

Based on Samaria's experiences, Hendricks improved the tutoring program, recruiting students from as far as UCLA to help teach. The following summer (1965), the tutorial program attracted close to 100 students.

Desegregating Mercer University

Samaria was then admitted to Mercer University, the first such African American woman. At Mercer, Samaria continued to endure racist remarks from her peers on a daily basis. Most students ignored her, avoiding eye contact, and even some professors treated her like a nonentity. In her chemistry class, she was the only female pupil, and the professor had to force another student to be her lab partner. The mistreatment, however, did not stop Samaria from pursuing her education. She notes, "I've never been a quitter." During her time at Mercer, Samaria continued to perform as a pianist. She was offered recording contracts with several music labels, but rejected them to continue pursuing her education.

Later life and occupation

After graduation, Bailey started Med-Tech Service, a medical technologies company. Med-Tech Service employed forty to fifty people, provided nurses, technicians, and other health- care providers throughout the Macon area. Samaria has described her ideology as follows: "I was never a separatist. I was never a black militant. I just always wanted to get the job done." Indeed, ninety percent of her employees were white. As of 2014, Samaria Bailey resided with her husband in Macon, Georgia.