Mary McLeod Bethune

A hero is someone who is dedicated, courageous and determined. Determination means that a person is persistent and does not give up on his or her goals. Courage is a strong willingness to take a chance to complete the goal. Dedication is commitment to stick to the goal and not to stop until it is reached. Mary Jane McLeod Bethune is an example of a hero that possessed all three of these traits. She was an American educator and civil rights leader who is best known for starting a school for African American students in Daytona Beach Florida that became Bethune-Cookman University.

All heroes must be dedicated to something and for Mary McLeod Bethune it was to help people. Mary Jane McLeod was born on July 10, 1875. After the Civil War, African Americans were still not allowed to interact with white people. In her community, there was a school opening for black children. Mary wanted to become a missionary because she was dedicated to helping others by teaching them. Once her schooling was over at age 11, she wanted to continue her education, but her parents did not have the money to send her to school. It was important for her to be educated and wanted to do whatever it took to become a missionary. Mary saved her money, so that she could go to school. When Mary turned 13 years old, she was awarded a scholarship to attend the Bible Institution to prepare to become a missionary.

Mary showed courage by asking her church teachers if she could become a missionary in Africa. They told her that blacks were not allowed to become missionaries. In 1904, Mary moved to Daytona Beach, Florida, with only $1.50 to start a new school for African American students. Mary was courageous for asking others to help her with opening the new school, but they thought she was crazy. Mary was devoted to her goal of opening a new school and tirelessly worked to obtain funding for her school. Mary McLeod Bethune finally opened the new college for African American students. If she had not been courageous to open the first African American college we wouldn’t have all the great schools we have now.

Determination is a trait that all heroes must have. Mary McLeod Bethune showed this trait by working a civil rights leader to end discrimination and allow all students, including African American students, to obtain an education. She gave various speeches and wrote magazine articles to fight for equal rights for all students. Mary McLeod Bethune won the Spingarn Medal from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) for her various outstanding achievements in education and civil rights. Mary was also appointed as the Director of the Division of Negro Affairs for the National Youth Administration (NYA), which was a federal agency whose purpose was to provide relief and employment for young people. She was the first African American female to head a federal agency. Mary was responsible for providing funding training programs for schools and colleges. At 65 years old, Mary began to develop breathing problems and she went to Johns Hopkins Hospital to have an operation. Her health problems did not stop her for fighting for equal education and civil rights for African Americans.

Mary McLeod Bethune was a determined and courageous hero who was dedicated to education and civil rights. Mary knew that if African American students received a good education, then they would become successful citizens. She courageously worked to get funding to open a new school for African American students to learn new skills. This school eventually became known as the Bethune-Cookman University. This school is still open to any person who would like to get an education for any race. I know that if Mary McLeod Bethune was still alive today she would be still trying to help people.