Miriam Elizabeth Benjamin was born in Charleston, South Carolina, just months after the start of the Civil War. Her early life was undoubtedly influenced by the socio-political climate of the Reconstruction era.

Specific details about Miriam's early childhood are scarce. However, growing up in the South during Reconstruction meant facing considerable challenges due to racial prejudice and limited opportunities for African Americans. Information on her parents, and if she had siblings, would be crucial to understanding her upbringing.

Miriam's family relocated from South Carolina to Boston, Massachusetts. This move offered greater educational opportunities. She attended school in Boston, which likely provided a more progressive and equitable learning environment compared to the segregated South of the time.

After completing her education, Miriam Benjamin started her career as a schoolteacher. This was a common and respectable profession for educated women at the time, particularly for African American women who sought to uplift their communities through education.