Mary Church Terrell
(September 23, 1863 – July 24, 1954)
Mary Church Terrell, a prominent civil rights and women’s rights activist, was born in Memphis, Tennessee, on September 23, 1863. Her life and achievements can be summarized as follows:
Early Education:
- Born in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1863.
- Pioneering Educational Attainment: One of the trailblazing African American women to attend Oberlin College in Ohio.
- Educational Degrees: Earned her undergraduate degree in Classics in 1884 and a graduate degree in Education in 1888.
Teaching Career:
- Teaching Roles: Began her teaching career at Wilberforce College in Xenia, Ohio.
- Relocation: Moved to Washington, DC, in 1887 to teach at the M Street High School.
Activism and Leadership:
- Black Women’s Club Movement: Actively participated in the Black Women’s Club Movement.
- First NACW President: Served as the inaugural president of the National Association of Colored Women (NACW), an organization advocating for voting and equal rights with the motto “lifting as we climb.”
- Influence on Organizations: Played a crucial role in the establishment and advancement of organizations such as the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW), National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), National Association of College Women, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.
- Educational Leadership: Continued her involvement in education while leading clubs, including being appointed superintendent of Dunbar High School in 1895.
Advocacy and Writing:
- Suffragette and Civil Rights Leader: A prominent figure in both the suffragette and civil rights movements during the early 20th century.
- Prolific Writer: Authored numerous articles and poems in major publications and newspapers on subjects encompassing race, gender, and the promotion of the Club Movement, often using the pen name Euphemia Kirk.
- Influential Works: Notable works include “A Colored Woman in a White World” and “What it means to be Colored in the Capital of the United States.”
Desegregation Efforts:
- Desegregation Victory: In 1950, Mary Church Terrell was instrumental in a successful lawsuit that led to the desegregation of restaurants in the DC area.
- AAUW Integration: Successfully advocated for the integration of African Americans into her local chapter of the American Association of University Women (AAUW).
Legacy:
- Passing: Mary Church Terrell passed away in 1954 at the age of 90 in Highland Beach, Maryland.
Mary Church Terrell’s life was marked by her tireless efforts in advocating for civil rights, women’s rights, and educational equality, leaving an enduring legacy of activism and social change.