Mary McLeod Bethune

Real World Example

Mary McLeod Bethune was a key figure in history as an educator and civil rights activist who played a significant role during The New Deal era from 1933 to 1940. She founded a school for African American girls in Florida, which later became Bethune-Cookman University. During The New Deal, she was appointed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to be the Director of the Division of Negro Affairs of the National Youth Administration, where she worked to create job opportunities for African American youth. Her actions mattered at the time because they helped bridge racial divides and provided educational and job opportunities to marginalized communities. Today, her legacy inspires people to value education and civil rights, as seen in organizations like the National Council of Negro Women, which she founded and continues to advocate for equality and empowerment of African American women.