"Augusta Savage was born on February 29, 1892 in Green Cove Springs, Florida. Augusta knew at an early age that she wanted
to become a sculptor. Unfortunately, Savage's father, a Methodist minister, disapproved of his daughter's love for art because
he believed her creations were pagan. As a result, Augusta experienced periods in her life when she was unable to practice
her sculpting. In 1915, the Savage family left Green Cove Springs and moved to West Palm Beach. It was in West Palm Beach
that Augusta realized that her future was in sculpting. At a 1919 county fair, Savage was given an award for a group of her
sculptures and was inspired to become a professional artist. Soon after her success, Augusta Savage moved to Jacksonville,
Florida in search of work as a sculptor. Like so many blacks living in the South around this time, Savage's efforts to establish
herself proved unsuccessful. In 1921, Augusta Savage moved to New York believing that the North would provide her with the
artistic opportunity she desired; a belief shared by many blacks during the Migration era."
|