Mary McLeod Bethune

Born in 1875 in Mayesville, South Carolina to former slaves.

Wanted to learn to read, but there were no schools for African American children.

Emma Wilson came to town and started a school for African American children.

Mary taught the rest of her friends and family to read using the newspaper and the Bible.

Went to high school at Scotia Seminary. Worked with the rest of the students to

take care of the school – scrubbed floors, laundry, bake bread

Graduated and went to Chicago, Illinois to study religion.

Wanted to become a missionary to Africa, but wasn’t allowed to go because she was an African American.

Began teaching at the Haines Institute in Augusta, GA.

Opened her own school for African American girls in Dayton, Florida.

The school was very popular and eventually became a college.

Became active in many civic clubs. She fought against segregation when

white and black women couldn’t sit together at the club meetings.

Her main focus was always to improve the education for African Americans.

Moved to Washington, D.C. to help President Franklin D. Roosevelt with the National Youth Administration – help African American youth get jobs during the Great Depression

Worked with other organizations such as National Council of Negro Women to help African American women gain equal rights

Bethune-Cookman College is still around today – Less than 500 students in 1907, over 2,500 students by 2003

Bethune has a statue in her honor in Washington, D.C.

She was pictured on a postage stamp.

Demonstrated diligence throughout her entire life by working hard to get an education and making sure that those she cared about had one too.

Showed respect for authority by going to Washington, D.C. when President Roosevelt asked her to.

Worked for justice by fighting for equal rights for African Americans and women.