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Mary McLeod Bethune was a prominent African American educator, civil rights leader, and government official. Born on July 10, 1875, in Mayesville, South Carolina, Bethune became one of the most influential African American women of her time.
Bethune emphasized the importance of providing practical education and racial pride to the advancement of African Americans. Her commitment to education led her to found the Daytona Educational and Industrial Training School for Negro Girls in Daytona Beach, Florida, in 1904. This school later merged with the Cookman Institute for Men to become Bethune-Cookman College, now known as Bethune-Cookman University.
Throughout her life, Mary McLeod Bethune worked tirelessly to uplift African Americans and promote equality and justice for all. She became an outspoken advocate for civil rights and women's rights, served as an advisor to several U.S. presidents, including Franklin D. Roosevelt, and was the only African American woman to attend the founding conference of the United Nations in 1945.
Her legacy continues to inspire generations of educators, activists, and leaders.