Mary McLeod Bethune: Fighting for Equality in the Classroom and Beyond

Mary McLeod Bethune, born in 1875 to formerly enslaved parents, became a pivotal figure in education and civil rights. She founded the Daytona Normal and Industrial School for black girls and the National Council of Negro Women. As an advisor to President Franklin D. Roosevelt, she helped establish the Black Cabinet. Bethune was the highest-ranking black woman in the federal government, emphasizing education as a tool for racial equality. Her legacy continues to inspire social justice efforts today.

What challenges did Mary McLeod Bethune face during her childhood?

• Living in a large city

• Growing up in a wealthy family

• Balancing work in cotton fields with studying

• Lack of access to education

What was the significance of the Daytona Normal and Industrial School?

• It was a university for adults

• It was one of the few schools for black girls in the area

• It was the first school for black boys in the area

• It was a school for white children

What was the purpose of the Federal Council on Colored Affairs?

• To establish new schools for white children

• To provide financial aid to all citizens

• To organize protests against the government

• To guide the President on issues relating to black citizens

How did Mary McLeod Bethune contribute to the federal government?

• She became the first black woman president

• She was the Director of the Division of Negro Affairs

• She founded a new political party

• She served as a Supreme Court judge

What legacy did Mary McLeod Bethune leave behind?

• She became the first female president of the United States

• She was the first black woman to receive a statue in Washington, DC

• She was the first woman to fly across the Atlantic

• She founded the first university in America