She was the only child in her family to attend school, walking miles daily to a local mission school.
She believed in "three-fold training" for the head, hand, and heart , combining academic learning with spiritual development and industrial skills. Political Leadership and Advocacy mary mcleod bethune
The school merged with the Cookman Institute for Men in 1923, eventually becoming Bethune-Cookman University . She was the only child in her family
Mary McLeod Bethune (1875–1955) was a monumental educator, civil rights leader, and presidential advisor who dedicated her life to the advancement of Black Americans and women. Born to formerly enslaved parents, she rose from poverty to become one of the most influential political and social figures of the 20th century. Mary McLeod Bethune (1875–1955) was a monumental educator,
Born on July 10, 1875, in Mayesville, South Carolina, she was the 15th of 17 children.
In 1904, with just $1.50 and five students, Bethune founded the in Daytona Beach, Florida.
Bethune broke numerous racial and gender barriers in the federal government: Mary McLeod Bethune - National Women's History Museum