Mary McLeod Bethune #2137

Mary McLeod Bethune was an African American educator, civil rights leader, and government official who dedicated her life to advancing the cause of racial justice and equality in the United States. Mary McLeod Bethune was born in 1875 in South Carolina to parents who had been enslaved. Despite facing significant obstacles, including poverty and discrimination, Bethune was able to receive an education and eventually became a teacher. She founded a school for African American girls in Florida, which later merged with a school for boys to become Bethune-Cookman University.

Bethune was also a prominent civil rights leader, serving as a leader in the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and founding the National Council of Negro Women. She was a close advisor to President Franklin D. Roosevelt and worked tirelessly to promote policies that would benefit African Americans, such as better access to education and employment opportunities.

The issuance of the Black Heritage stamp in Bethune’s honor was a fitting tribute to her legacy as a trailblazing educator and civil rights leader. It also served as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for racial justice in America and the vital contributions of African Americans to the nation’s history and culture.