The Whole World Opened
Mary McLeod Bethune was born in 1875 to former slaves in South Carolina. The 15th of 17 children, she worked in cotton fields until a missionary opened a school for Black children.
"The whole world opened to me when I learned to read," she said. She devoured the Bible and dreamed of teaching others.
Starting With $1.50
In 1904, with $1.50 and five students, Bethune started a school for Black girls in Daytona Beach, Florida. They used boxes for desks and charred wood for pencils. They sang hymns while they worked.
Faith and Service
From that humble beginning grew Bethune-Cookman University. Bethune became a confidante of Eleanor Roosevelt and advisor to four presidents. She was the first African American woman to head a federal agency.
"Faith is the first factor in a life devoted to service," Bethune declared. "Without it, nothing is possible. With it, nothing is impossible."
A Transformative Legacy
The girl from the cotton fields became one of the most influential African American women in history. Her faith in God and education transformed not just her life, but the lives of thousands who followed.
