On July 10, 1875 in Mayesville, South Carolina the legendary Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune was born. Mary was the fifteenth of the seventeen children to be born with freedom. She was born as a former slave of Samuel and Patsy McLeod. Patsy worked until her family had enough money to have 5 acres of land which Mary’s father decided to grow cotton. At 9 years old Mary picked 250 pounds of cotton per day making her develop a strong work ethic. Mary’s mother delivered laundry to white peoples’ homes.Mary was allowed to play with the white children and their toys sometimes. While playing with the children, Mary picked up a book the white child snatched the book away saying black children could not read. As a result of her success instead letting these words hinder her Mary used …show more content…
At 29 years old, Mary opened Daytona Normal and Industrial School for Training Negro Girls in Daytona, Florida The school started off with 5 students in a old house, gradually expanding by persistence and fundraising up to 250 students. In, 1923, Bethune beginned transititing to a college by bringing males from Cookman Institute in Jacksonville, Florida. Mary served as a president of the Institute becoming a inspiring national and international figure. In 1935, she was the founder of National Council of Negro Women in New York and also Franklin D. Roosevelt made her director of Negro Affairs of National Youth Administration from 1936-1943. This allowed her to reach out to black youth because of her devotion for education. Before Mary Bethune’s death she penned “My last will and testiment” to reflect the life of her legacy. She closed with “If I have a legacy to leave my people, it is philosophy of living and serving”. In honor of the legendary Mary McLeod Bethune, she was honored National Women's Hall of Fame in 1973 and the U.S bought the headquarters of NCNW changed it into Mary Bethune Council House National Historic