Posted on Jul 13, 2022
Mary McLeod Bethune inducted as first Black member of Capitol's National Statuary Hall
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Mary Mcleod Bethune was born in South Carolina in 1875 as the daughter of two formerly enslaved people. Now she's being immortalized in the Capitol as the National Statuary Hall's first Black member.
Here & Now's Scott Tong speaks with Dr. Julius John, associate professor of communication and theatre at Bethune-Cookman University.
Here & Now's Scott Tong speaks with Dr. Julius John, associate professor of communication and theatre at Bethune-Cookman University.
Mary McLeod Bethune inducted as first Black member of Capitol's National Statuary Hall
Posted from wbur.org
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Posted 2 y ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."Bethune’s activism landed her political prowess, too, and she gave a voice to unrepresented Black voices in America. In 1924, the National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs elected her president. She also served as the founding president of the National Council of Negro Women in 1935, and vice president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People in 1940. She stayed in her role with the NAACP until her death in 1955.
A close friend of former first lady Eleanor Roosevelt, Bethune was named director of Negro Affairs for the National Youth Administration by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and served as the leader of his unofficial Black cabinet. Her collaboration with U.S. presidents didn’t end there, as President Harry S. Truman appointed her to participate in the 1945 founding conference of the United Nations. Bethune was the only woman of color in attendance.
“She assisted four different presidents,” John says.
Though states were granted the ability to replace the statue representing them in Statuary Hall in 2000, none of the new additions had been Black historical figures. Statues of Black American history-makers like Frederick Douglass and Rosa Parks do exist in Statuary Hall but are not part of the national collection like Bethune’s.
“She’s sitting among greats,” John says. “I’m sure they’re welcoming her with open arms. Her legacy lives and will always live.”
..."Bethune’s activism landed her political prowess, too, and she gave a voice to unrepresented Black voices in America. In 1924, the National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs elected her president. She also served as the founding president of the National Council of Negro Women in 1935, and vice president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People in 1940. She stayed in her role with the NAACP until her death in 1955.
A close friend of former first lady Eleanor Roosevelt, Bethune was named director of Negro Affairs for the National Youth Administration by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and served as the leader of his unofficial Black cabinet. Her collaboration with U.S. presidents didn’t end there, as President Harry S. Truman appointed her to participate in the 1945 founding conference of the United Nations. Bethune was the only woman of color in attendance.
“She assisted four different presidents,” John says.
Though states were granted the ability to replace the statue representing them in Statuary Hall in 2000, none of the new additions had been Black historical figures. Statues of Black American history-makers like Frederick Douglass and Rosa Parks do exist in Statuary Hall but are not part of the national collection like Bethune’s.
“She’s sitting among greats,” John says. “I’m sure they’re welcoming her with open arms. Her legacy lives and will always live.”
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