All posts by Mary Walker

African-American Women in America – Rosa McCauley Parks

Rosa Parks – Mother of the Civil Rights Movement

We cannot recount the stories of so many courageous black women without telling the story of Rosa McCauley Parks (1913 – 2005). Last fall we left off with the stores of Mary McLeod Bethune, educator and leader, and we reviewed the achievements of Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, in the space industry and depicted in the movie “Hidden Figures”. 

A significant story for our post today is that of Ida B. Wells (See post October 3, 2019). 

Recall that Ida B. Wells took her stand for freedom in 1884 while riding on a train. Ida suffered humiliation and abuse as a black woman. Ida was riding the train between Memphis and Nashville. She had bought a first-class ticket and expected to use it. Ida got into the first-class compartment for whites only. The train officials told her to get in the “Negro”[1] car instead and she refused to move. The railway men physically removed her. Ida sued the railroad and won a settlement, but the Tennessee Supreme Court overturned it. Ida B. Wells had been an activist seventy years before Rosa Parks. 

Following in Ida’s footsteps, In 1955, Rosa Parks refused to go to the back of a bus where the “colored” people were supposed to sit. Rosa’s act of defiance was the beginning of the Civil Rights movement in the United States.

Rosa McCauley was born in Tuskegee, Alabama on February 4, 1913. She met Raymond Parks and they married when she was 19 years old. They lived in Montgomery Alabama.

Raymond was a barber and Rosa worked at a department store. She joined the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in 1943. She was the secretary for the organization.

 During this period of time, segregation laws forced black people to sit at the back of buses. If the seats for white people were full, black people had to give up their seats or get off of the bus. On December 1, 1955 Rosa got on the bus after work as usual and sat in the black section. As the bus began to fill up the bus driver moved the “colored” sign further back and told Rosa to move back. She refused. The bus driver got off and called for the police.

Rosa was arrested and charged with breaking Montgomery’s segregation laws. She went to jail until some friends could bail her out.

 Inspired by her courage and the preaching of Martin Luther King Jr., a bus boycott began. Beginning on Monday, December 5 thousands of people stayed off of the buses. They found other ways to get to work sometimes even walking for miles. The bus companies began to lose a lot of money. After 381 days the city of Montgomery got rid of the busing segregation laws. This was a huge victory for the Civil Rights movement.

But it caused hard times for Rosa and Raymond. 
They both lost their jobs. They suffered harassment and threat of bodily harm. Finally, they made the decision to move to Detroit, Michigan.

As the Civil Rights movement grew Rosa continued to work for equality for African Americans. In 1987, Rosa founded the Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self Development. She also received many awards including the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Clinton in 1996. In 1999, she received the Congressional Gold Medal.

 Rosa died at age 92 on October 24, 2005. She was honored greatly by being buried at the United States Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. More than 50,000 people attended her ceremony.

Rosa is one of those people whose lives changed history. She is a hero to all.

 I watched a movie produced about Rosa Parks starring Angela Bassett called “The Rosa Parks Story”. It was released in 2002 by Xenon Pictures. It was beautifully done. Rosa was just an ordinary person who took an extraordinary stand against injustice.

The movie tells of her early life, romance, and marriage. The struggles that Rosa went through affected her relationship with Raymond, but they weathered the storms together. I hope you will see the movie. You will be inspired and touched.

[1] In the 1800’s African Americans were referred to as “Negroes” or Blacks. In the mid-twentieth century the term “colored” was common. In these posts we use the term “African-American” women which many prefer.

From Eve to Mary- Episode 009

Mary was truly remarkable. Sovereignly chosen by God to bear the Christ child, from among all of the women who had ever been born, she was the one who brought our Redeemer, the Messiah into the world. Mary was an ordinary human being, but she had great faith, courage, and piety. She proved her faith with obedience, her courage with humility, and her piety with thoughtfulness, prayer, and submission to God’s will.

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Harriet – A Courageous African-American Woman

Twasn’t me, ’twas the Lord! I always told Him, ‘I trust to you. I don’t know where to go or what to do, but I expect You to lead me,’ an’ He always did.     Harriet Tubman

We interrupt this series on African-American women with an exciting announcement! For the past several months we have been relating the stories of remarkable black women in America. We began with the stories of 18thand 19thcentury African-American women. Some were born as slaves and some were born free. All of these women were courageous examples of what can be done by a woman who does not let her circumstances dictate to her. These women rose above many hardships including poverty, illness, prejudice, internal conflicts, and the limitations of their times to follow their call from God and affect the lives of many other people for good. Why were they able to live in a realm above their circumstances? It is because they all received strength from God. They all answered the call in their lives to help others.

One of the most amazing of these women who really exemplified this description was Harriet Tubman. Several weeks ago (October 24, 2019) we did a story on Harriet on this blog. Recently, my husband and I went to see the movie, “Harriet”. I highly recommend this film. 

Harriet

First of all, I want to say that the movie was beautifully photographed. The plantation buildings, costumes, and background were all historically accurate. I think a movie is great when I can put myself into the picture and feel as if I’m really there. If I can imagine myself there listening to and responding with the characters, then the movie is well done. This is especially true when the focus is on the character as well as the story, as this one is.

Not only was the setting and background of this production engaging, but the actor who portrayed Harriet (Cynthia Erivo) was very genuine. Movies can be completely ruined when the audience sees the actor and not the character. Cynthia Erivo unselfishly left herself in the background and made the incredible character of Minty/Harriet come shining through. All of the actors in Harriet did a fine job of portraying the individual they were representing. I think that says something about the fine directing as well. 

The film focused on Harriet Tubman and demonstrated what a life of courage and tenacity can do to make life better for those who have the faith to pursue it.

Brief synopsis

The movie opens with a scene that takes place in the yard in front of the plantation mansion of Master Brodess. The slaves, Araminta “Minty” Ross, her parents, her free husband, John Tubman, and others are attending a church service led by a newly freed-man, Rev. Green. After the service, John and Ben Ross respectfully request that Master Brodess honor Brodess’s dead father’s wishes to free Ben’s wife and children after a certain age. Brodess refuses. Minty prays and asks God to retaliate against Brodess. Brodess dies sometime later. Brodess’s son, Gideon, who had a fondness for Minty when they were children decides to sell her. 

Minty does not want to leave her family. She has recurring dreams and visions and one of the most wounding for her is the one where her siblings are being sold to other plantations. As often happens  when the family is separated, Minty realizes that she may never see some of her sisters and brothers again. Minty decides to run away rather than be sold. She journeys more than 100 miles to freedom in Pennsylvania. While there she takes a new name – Harriet Tubman – Harriet for her mother and Tubman for her husband. 

Minty loved her new freedom and wanted to share it with others. She also hoped to rescue some of her family. She went to work for the Underground Railroad. The movie continues with the story of how she rescued many slaves using the underground railroad and eventually served during the Civil War rescuing over 200 more runaway slaves. Throughout this time Gideon Brodess tries to capture her. He hires seasoned slave hunters but Minty, now Harriet, manages to escape claiming all the while that it is with God’s help.

Comments

There are many things that stand out in this exceptional movie, but I want to focus on Harriet’s faith. I will also make some comments on how slavery was depicted in this movie.

Harriet – Throughout the entire movie we see that Harriet has a deep faith and trust in God. She made no apology for that. Her parents raised her in the Christian faith and in spite of the way that the Bible was sometimes used to justify slavery she never wavered from her belief in God. 

Since she was a young girl, Harriet had experienced visions and dreams. She was able to discern the voice of God Who was warning her of danger and telling her how to escape. Sometimes Harriet would slip into a trance putting her at risk if she was discovered laying helplessly on the ground. Many questioned her spirituality, including her brother who thought she was insane. He changed his mind when the information she received in a vision led them to safety. 

The slaves had given Harriet the name “Moses” because she rescued and led people to a better land. The film depicts Harriet sneaking back down to Maryland and calling the people that she will rescue by singing portions of Negro spirituals. This is evidence in fact that many slaves had adopted the Christian faith. Harriet rescued so many slaves that a reward was put out for her capture, but she refused to give up. In the film, she tells a gathering of people at the Anti-Slavery Society in Philadelphia, who would try and convince her to be cautious, that she would “give every last drop of blood in my veins to free them.” 

I won’t give any more away. Please go see the movie. You will witness the incredible courage and heroism and a woman who was determined to follow God by helping others, keeping true to her motto “I’ma be free or die!”

Slavery– The film does a good job of depicting slavery without resorting to the violence that we often see in other movies (such as 12 Years a Slave). Yet, in this movie there are still several ways that we witness the horrors of slavery. Once when Harriet is bathing, we see the scars on her back. Other men and women are portrayed with wounds and brands. We see that abuse also comes in the form of rape when Harriet’s former owner, Gideon and a slave hunter share stories about the number of women they had sex with. And there is emotional abuse too; when we see the separation of family members movingly portrayed. 

But, one of the most abusive things about slavery for me is how the Bible was used to “prove” that slavery is condoned by God. The film depicts this by starting right out with a scene where the owner was holding a mandatory church service for the slaves. Reverend Green (who later gives Minty invaluable help when she escapes) is giving a condescending sermon where he quotes Colossians 3:22, “Slaves, in all things obey those who are your masters on earth, not with external service, as those who merely please men, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.” The sermon is meant to appease the master and his wife who are listening. It is a good cover for Rev. Green who is really helping slaves to escape. And we know as Harriet says later, “God don’t mean people to own people.” 

Conclusion– Harriet Tubman died in Auburn, New York on March 10, 1913 at age 93 (91 according to the film). She led a life that made a difference to many people. Harriet accomplished much in spite of illness, threats, poverty, and danger all around her. Her childlike faith and determination are an example for us all. One of her final comments reinforces the character of Harriet as a courageous warrior and leader for God.

“I go to prepare a place for you” (John 14:3). 

African-American Women in America – Mary McLeod Bethune

Mary McLeod Bethune – Leader in Education

For the past several months we have been relating the stories of remarkable black women in America. We began with the stories of 18thand 19thcentury African-American women. Some were born as slaves and some were born free. All of these women were courageous examples of what can be done by a woman who does not let her circumstances dictate to her. These women rose above many hardships including poverty, illness, prejudice, internal conflicts, and the limitations of their times to follow their call from God and affect the lives of many other people for good. Why were they able to live in a realm above their circumstances? It is because they all received strength from God. They all answered the call in their lives to serve.

We continued with the stories of more black women in the kingdom of God in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. In spite of the limitations they had imposed on them by society these women followed their call to become evangelists, missionaries, journalists, business women, philanthropists, teachers, and activists. 

Several weeks ago, we recounted the story of Madame C. J. Walker – the Firstblack woman millionaire in America! There were other “Firsts” such as Ida B. Wells, the First woman to challenge the bigotry of the transportation system by boarding a train in the ‘white’ section in 1884.[1] 

For the next few weeks we will do more “Firsts”. These will include – Bessie Coleman, early pilot, daredevil and stunt flyer; Mary McLeod Bethune, educator and leader; Mae Jemison – first female black astronaut; Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson – achievements in the space industry and instrumental in getting the first Americans in space and on the moon. Rosa Parks challenged the ‘Jim Crow’ laws in 1955 when she refused to give up her seat to a white person on a bus. These women were all very great women of courage and much to be admired.

Mary McLeod Bethune (1875 – 1955)

Through love and faith and determination I have been persistently facing obstacles, small and large, and I have made them stepping stones upon which to rise.          

Mary McLeod Bethune

Mary McLeod Bethune is remembered as an educator and an activist. Mary was born with three strikes against her – she was poor, black, and female. This indomitable woman who believed that “Love, not hate, has been the fountain of my fullness” spent her life building a better world.

Mary McLeod was born on July 10, 1875 near Mayesville, South Carolina. This was during the period of ‘reconstruction’ in the South. Tempers often ran as hot as the weather and as the nation adjusted, unfair anti-black violence escalated. Through it all many black men and women maintained their faith in God. There was a strong belief that education would raise the status of black people in the perceptions of others and would result in better jobs.

Originally Mary trained at Moody Bible Institute (as it is called today) to become a missionary to Africa. It seems incredible to us now, but she was told that black women were not allowed to go on the mission field. This didn’t stop Mary for long. Realizing that this setback was only a ‘stepping stone upon which to rise’ she put her heart and soul into educating poor black children, starting with girls. Mary believed that as the mothers in the homes, girls would grow up to have a profound impact on their children’s education.

Mary married Albert McLeod Bethune in 1898. They had one son. Sadly, due to disagreements that couldn’t be reconciled Mary and Albert ended the marriage in 1907.

Mary founded the Daytona Normal and Industrial Institute for Negro Girls in Daytona, Florida in 1904. She started with only five students, but the school grew to over 250 students in only a few years. Mary remained the president and leader until 1942. In 1923 the school combined with the Cookman Institute for Men. The newly combined school, called the Bethune-Cookman College, was one of the few places where African-American students could get a college degree.

Besides her important work at the school, Mary also became politically involved. She was president of the Florida chapter of the National Association of Colored Women for many years.  Mary worked with presidents Calvin Coolidge, Herbert Hoover, and Franklin D. Roosevelt to improve life for African-Americans. She served on many committees and started up her own organization – the National Council of Negro Women. In 1936 President Roosevelt appointed her to be the director of the Division of Negro Affairs of the National Youth Administration. In this position Mary was able to help young people find jobs. At this time Mary also served as an advisor to both Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt.

In 1942 Mary retired from Bethune-Cookman college. She moved to Washington DC and lived there for several years. She was an early member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. In the early 1950’s, President Truman appointed her to be the official delegate to Liberia for the inauguration of their new president.

Eventually Mary returned to Florida to retire. She passed away on May 18, 1955.

Before she died Mary wrote “My Last Will and Testament.” She wanted to leave her people with a legacy of serving. Here are her ‘bequests’:

             I leave you love.
             I leave you hope.
             I leave you the challenge of developing confidence in one another.
             I leave you a thirst for education.
             I leave you a respect for the uses of power. (This power should be placed on the side of human justice.)
             I leave you faith.
             I leave you racial dignity.
             I leave you a desire to live harmoniously with your fellow men.
             I leave you finally a responsibility to our young people.

Faith Courage, brotherhood, dignity, ambition, responsibility – these are needed today as never before. We must cultivate them and use them as tools for our task of completing the establishment of equality for the Negro. 

If I have a legacy to leave my people, it is my philosophy of living and serving. As I face tomorrow, I am content, for I think I have spent my life well. I pray now that my philosophy may be helpful to those who share my vision of a world of Peace, Progress, Brotherhood and Love.[2]

 In 1973, eighteen years after her passing, Mary McLeod Bethune was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame. In 1974, a seventeen-foot bronze sculpture commemorating Mary’s work in education was erected in Lincoln Park, Washington DC. It is the first statue ever dedicated on federal land to honor either an African-American or a woman.

The U.S. Postal Service issued a stamp in her honor in 1985.

 The Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site was opened in 1994.

 I found a wonderful video production of Mary’s life on YouTube. It is in three parts totaling a little over 26 minutes. It gives great historical background and contains many contemporary photos. I highly recommend it!!

 YouTube:

  1.  Mary McLeod Bethune Part One desktop, Jan. 24, 2009, Brian Stewart 9:42

2. Mary McLeod Bethune Part Two desktop, 9:46

3. Mary McLeod Bethune Part Three desktop, 6:44

[1]See post – on September 26 on this website.

[2]Audrey Thomas McCluskey & Elaine M. Smith, editors. Mary McLeod Bethune: Building a Better World, Essays and Selected Documents (Indianapolis, IN: Indiana University Press, 2001) 58-61.

African-American Women in America – “HIdden Figures”

We interrupt this series for an important announcement!!

The NASA women who inspired ‘Hidden Figures’ will get Congressional gold medals[1]

For the past several months we have been relating the stories of remarkable black women in America. We told the stories of 18thand 19thcentury African-American women. We continued with the stories of more black women in the kingdom of God in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In spite of the limitations imposed on them by society these women followed their call to become evangelists, missionaries, journalists, business women, scientists, philanthropists, teachers, and activists. 

Next, we recounted the story of Madame C. J. Walker – the Firstblack woman millionaire in America! There were other “Firsts” such as Ida B. Wells, the First woman to challenge the bigotry of the transportation system by boarding a train in the ‘white’ section in 1884.[2] 

We want to continue with more “Firsts”. These will include – Bessie Coleman, early pilot, daredevil and stunt flyer; Mary McLeod Bethune, educator and leader; Mae Jemison – first female black astronaut; Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson – achievements in the space industry and instrumental in getting the first Americans in space and on the moon. Rosa Parks challenged the ‘Jim Crow’ laws in 1955 when she refused to give up her seat to a white person on a bus. These women were all very great women of courage and much to be admired.

This week though, we are going to interrupt the order listed above so that we may pause, reflect and honor the African-American women who worked at NASA during the 1960’s while America was working to put the first man on the moon.

Mathematician Katherine Goble Johnson, computer programmer Dorothy Vaughan, and engineers Mary Jackson and Christine Darden were awarded Congressional Gold Medals. These women are only a few of the many forgotten women, especially black women, who achieved amazing things in spite of the prejudice and road blocks thrown at them. All extremely brilliant women, they were the brains behind the launch of John Glenn into space in the 1960’s space race. The work of these “human computers” helped our country to put a man on the moon. Today, the street in front of the headquarters is named after them.

Here is a synopsis of the lives of the women who crossed racial and gender lines to contribute to the important work done at NASA:

Katherine Goble Johnson

Katherine was a math prodigy who graduated from West Virginia State College summa cum laude at only age 18. She married and had three children. Sadly, Mr. Goble died of a brain tumor. Later she remarried.

Katherine was an aerospace technologist. She verified the computer’s numbers for John Glenn’s orbit around the earth in 1962, calculated the historic Apollo 11 trip to the moon, and worked on the calculations that helped bring Apollo 13 safely back to earth after it malfunctioned in 1970. 

Update– Katherine is 101 years young and living in Virginia.

Dorothy Johnson Vaughan

Dorothy received her training at Wilberforce University in Ohio in 1929. She married Howard Vaughan and they had six children. In 1943, Dorothy went to work at Langley as one of the African-American women who were hired due to President Roosevelt’s executive order forbidding racial, ethnic, or religious discrimination in the defense industry as he sought to fill the jobs needed for the war effort. Dorothy was one of the countless female human “computers” who did the math for the space industry. 

Later when IBM introduced digital computers to replace the human computers, Dorothy was smart enough to figure a way to keep her job and the job of all of the other women. She taught herself and them the Fortran programming Language for the IBM 704 mainframe computers that NASA was installing. At the time, there were separate bathrooms and dining facilities for whites and blacks. 

Update– Dorothy died in 2008. She was awarded her medal posthumously.

Christine Darden

Christine was a data analyst at NASA’s Langley Research Center before becoming an aerospace engineer. She is credited with over 50 articles on aeronautics design and “her work led to discoveries which ‘revolutionized aerodynamics design.’” (Elassar).

Update– Christine is now 77 years old. She is retired and living in Hampton. She frequently travels around the country as a speaker. In 2018 Christine received the Presidential Citizenship Award at Hampton University in recognition for her contribution and service.

Mary Jackson

Mary graduated from Hampton Institute with bachelor’s degrees in Mathematics and physical science. Frustrated and unhappy about the discrimination against in the work place, Mary almost resigned. However, her supervisor, Kazimierz Czarnecki encouraged her to train as an engineer. Mary had to fight racial prejudice, but she successfully finished the course and was promoted to aerospace engineer in 1958 at the age of 37. She wrote many papers, studies of data that helped to improve US planes. Mary achieved the most senior rank in the engineering department but took a demotion to become a human resources administrator until her retirement in 1985. She spent her time helping other women and minorities to advance their careers. 

Update– Mary worked as an engineer for NASA and then became the Federal Women’s Program Manager where she strived to improve working conditions for black, female employees. She died in 2005. She received her medal posthumously.

In 2016 a movie was made to tell the story of the women. It focused on three of the women and was called “Hidden Figures”. It starred Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, and Janelle Monae. It was finally time after 55 years that Katherine, Dorothy, and Mary are recognized for their achievements. Though things have changed a lot since the 1940’s and 50’s, there is still a struggle for full racial and gender equality. The stories of these women will go a long way to erase the idea that women, especially black women are inferior.  

The movie is great, and I hope you will see it. My only disappoint was that the tremendous religious faith of these three wonderful women was not presented more. The women all just wanted to succeed and were willing to put up with the prejudice against them. In that era, blacks were often just happy to have a job. Their gratitude for what they had should put those of us who have never encountered their obstacles to shame. They are an inspiration!

These women were true pioneers and are an inspiration to everyone especially black women. Thanks to their unselfish and courageous efforts African-American women today can enter all fields of enterprise including mathematics, science, and technology.

[1]Alaa Elassar, CNN. “The NASA women who inspired ‘Hidden Figures’ will get Congressional gold medals”, November 9, 2019. https://www.cnn.com/2019/11/09/us/hidden-figures-congressional-medals-trnd/index.html

[2]See post – on September 26 on this website.

African-American Women in America – Lucy Craft Laney

For the past several months we have been relating the stories of remarkable black women in America. We began with the stories of 18thand 19thcentury African-American women. Some were born as slaves and some were born free. All of these women were courageous examples of what can be done by a woman who does not let her circumstances dictate to her. These women rose above many hardships including poverty, illness, prejudice, internal conflicts, and the limitations of their times to follow their call from God and affect the lives of many other people for good. Why were they able to live in a realm above their circumstances? It is because they all received strength from God. They all answered the call in their lives to serve.

We continued with the stories of more black women in the kingdom of God in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. In spite of the limitations they had imposed on them by society these women followed their call to become evangelists, missionaries, journalists, business women, philanthropists, founders, teachers, and activists. 

Several weeks ago, we recounted the story of Madame C. J. Walker – the Firstblack woman millionaire in America! There were other “Firsts” such as Ida B. Wells, the First woman to challenge the bigotry of the transportation system by boarding a train in the ‘white’ section in 1884. 

Today’s story is about another First – Lucy Craft Laney who founded the first kindergarten and the first nurses training schools in Georgia. 

Lucey Craft Laney

Lucy Craft Laney was a true builder of society. Remembered as the founder and principal of the Haines Institute in Augusta, Georgia for fifty years, Lucy is one of the most famous educators in the United States. She founded the first kindergarten and the first nurses training schools in Georgia.

Lucy Craft Laney was born a slave in 1854 in Macon, Georgia. She spent most of her childhood in Savannah where her father, Reverend David Laney was a preacher or exhorter. He became an ordained Presbyterian minister and pastored a church. Lucy’s mother, Louise was a very godly woman who raised not only her own large brood of children but took in the Laney cousins and many orphans. Lucy loved being around other children. She would continue to love the company of children her whole life long.

Lucy was very bright and was taught to read at the age of four by Miss Campbell, the master’s sister. Miss Campbell recognized Lucy’s giftedness and in spite of the local prejudice against blacks undertook to educate Lucy herself. Thanks to Miss Campbell Lucy was later able to attend Atlanta University at the tender age of fifteen. In 1873 Lucy was a member of the first graduating class of Atlanta University. She then began a teaching career in Savannah. 

After teaching for 10 years, Lucy began her own school in the basement of Christ Presbyterian church in Augusta. On the first morning there were six pupils, three little girls, one older girl, and two boys. At first, Lucy had only wanted to take girls but her heart was too big for poor children and she accepted many underprivileged boys. When the boy would show up at her door, Lucy had the gift to see past the child’s raggedness to what the boy could become. 

By the end of the first year Lucy had 75 students. At the end of the second year she reported 234. In 1886, Lucy visited the Presbyterian Board’s annual meeting to seek funds. The Board was impressed with her work but only voted to give her the funds to get home. However, while attending the Board conference Lucy made friends with Mrs. Francine Haines who would become a great benefactor. The little school which had been called Miss Laney’s school was renamed in honor of Mrs. Haines. Later it would be chartered and named the Haines Normal and Industrial Institute. 

By 1893 the institution had become a large boarding school, furnishing a home for 60 – 70 girls and some rented cottages for 15 – 20 boys. In 1906 an administration building, McGregor Hall was erected. Miss Laney believed that girls should get a good education for a teaching career but should also be self-sufficient. Therefore, the school ran a model garden. 

Soon the school would boast 26 teachers and 713 students. Graduates would go on to attend Atlanta University, Fisk U., Howard U., Shaw U., and Talladega College. Her students would be found in all walks of life throughout the United States.

One of Lucy’s most important contributions to the community was the introduction of trained nurses into Atlanta. Lucy convinced the city to give her an old “pest house” where patients with infectious diseases were kept, to use as a hospital. She brought a white trained nurse from Canada to be superintendent. Ten girls at Haines studied nursing. Later when the city built a new two-hundred bed hospital, one of these colored girls was made its superintendent. 

Besides all of her work at the school, Lucy was involved with efforts to alleviate the prejudice against blacks in her community. She helped to found the local chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in 1918. She was active in the Interracial Commission, the National Association of Colored Women, and the Niagara Movement. She helped integrate into the community the work of the YMCA and the YWCA. Many prominent blacks were her friends including Madame C. J. Walker (see post 5/2/17) and Mary McLeod Bethune (story posted on 4/11/17). 

In recognition of her accomplishments Lucy was awarded the degree of Master of Arts by Lincoln University in 1904; by her alma mater, Atlanta University, in 1923; by South Carolina State College in 1925; and by Howard University in 1930. 

Lucy passed away in 1933. In 1974, she was honored to have her portrait placed in the Georgia state capitol by Governor Jimmy Carter, along with portraits of Rev. Henry McNeal Turner and Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. 

Lucy’s portrait bears tribute to “the mother of the children of the people,” …. a woman who knew that “God didn’t use any different dirt to make me than the first lady of the land.” Lucy was inducted into the Georgia Women of Achievement in 1992.

I really love looking at old pictures of people and I found this wonderful video on You Tube. You will get a few more details of Lucy’s story as well as the enjoyment of seeing much that can be explained better in pictures than in my short biography. I know you will really enjoy this story of a truly great American educator. It’s a little over 9 minutes long and the production is professionally done. Author – Tina Calhoun.

You should also consider checking out the Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History if you are ever in Augusta. 

Attorney James C. Waters, Former Secretary of the Law School, Howard University summed up Lucy’s life well when he said, “Lucy Laney is an excellent builder. Her contribution to American life is that of building character.”[1]    

[1]Sadie Iola Daniel. Women Builders(Washington D.C.: Associated Publishers, 1969). P. 24.

African-American women in America – Maggie Lena Walker

Maggie Lena Walker – First Female Bank President

For the past several months we have been relating the stories of remarkable black women in America. We began with the stories of 18thand 19thcentury African-American women. Some were born as slaves and some were born free. All of these women were courageous examples of what can be done by a woman who does not let her circumstances dictate to her. These women rose above many hardships including poverty, illness, prejudice, internal conflicts, and the limitations of their times to follow their call from God and affect the lives of many other people for good. Why were they able to live in a realm above their circumstances? It is because they all received strength from God. They all answered the call in their lives to serve.

We continued with the stories of more black women in the kingdom of God in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. In spite of the limitations they had imposed on them by society these women followed their call to become evangelists, missionaries, journalists, business women, philanthropists, teachers, and activists. 

Several weeks ago, we recounted the story of Madame C. J. Walker – the Firstblack woman millionaire in America! There were other “Firsts” such as Ida B. Wells, the First woman to challenge the bigotry of the transportation system by boarding a train in the ‘white’ section in 1884.[1] 

For the next few weeks we will do more “Firsts”. These will include – Bessie Coleman, early pilot, daredevil and stunt flyer; Mary McLeod Bethune, educator and leader; Mae Jemison – first female black astronaut; Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson – achievements in the space industry and instrumental in getting the first Americans in space and on the moon. Rosa Parks challenged the ‘Jim Crow’ laws in 1955 when she refused to give up her seat to a white person on a bus. These women were all very great women of courage and much to be admired.

We must include the story of Maggie Lena Walker – the First woman bank president in the United States. Maggie was also a caring Christian woman whose work enabled many black people to lead better, happier lives. She is especially remembered for her efforts for the welfare of black youth.

Maggie Lena Draper was born on July 15, 1864 in Richmond, Virginia to Elizabeth Draper, a former slave. Maggie attended the Richmond Colored Normal School, dedicated to the education of black children. In 1883 Maggie completed her training as a teacher. She took a job teaching at Lancaster School where she remained until 1886. It was while attending this school that Maggie joined the order of St. Luke.

Maggie married Armstead Walker, Jr. in 1886. At this time Maggie had to quit her job as a teacher because the school had a policy against married teachers. Maggie and Armstead had three sons; tragically baby Armstead died while still an infant. Melvin and Russell were born later. Maggie split her time between mothering her children and working for the Order of St. Luke.

In 1901 Maggie became the grand secretary of the Independent Order of St. Luke, an organization dedicated to the social and financial advancement of blacks. When Maggie joined St. Luke’s it was struggling financially. With her incredible abilities, Maggie turned it around and made it into a flourishing organization. Maggie turned the organization which was nearly bankrupt into a profitable and effective one. 

Maggie made the organization a success by doing these things:

In 1902 she founded a newspaper, the St. Luke Herald to spread to the local chapters and to help with the educational work.

In 1903 she opened the St. Luke Penny Savings Bank. She remained the president until 1929. Under Maggie’s leadership the bank served a membership of over 50,000 in 1500 local chapters. Though many other banks failed during the Great Depression, Maggie kept her back alive by merging with two other banks in 1929.

In 1905 she opened the St. Luke Emporium, a department store that offered employment to black people along with a source of less expensive goods.

While doing all of this Maggie was active in social work. She took part in many educational efforts. She ran for the seat of superintendent of public instruction on the Republican ticket in 1921. She was defeated along with the other black Republican candidates. Her work for the Order of St. Luke was still ongoing with much success.

In 1925- in recognition of her efforts in the spiritual, civic, industrial and fraternal forces of the community and at large, the Virginia Union University awarded the honorary degree of Master of Science to Maggie.

For the last few years of her life, Maggie Walker was ill and confined to a wheelchair. She died from the complications of diabetes on December 15, 1934 at age 70. She is buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Richmond. In 1979 her home on East Leigh St. was purchased by the National Parks Service and became a National Historic Site.

 I am so happy to put links to pictures of Maggie Lena Walker. Go to these links for her amazing story. Both productions are beautiful and interesting.

“Maggie Lena Walker”, by Marion Newton, YouTube, 11 minutes, 30 seconds.

Published on Oct 1, 2015

The First Black Woman in the United States to become a president of a local bank, Maggie’s story is told in “her voice” by a narrator. There are many great quotes. The pictures tell the story in a very memorable way. Her Christian faith became the most important thing in her life.

Another great link:

“Carry On: The Life and Legacy of Maggie Lena Walker”

[1]See post – on September 26 on this website.