Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune with local Daytona Beach community leaders
Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune and Marian Anderson at the launching of the SS Booker T Washington, a US Maritime Commission Liberty ship
Dr. Bethune was instrumental in the promotion of a Madame Walker’ s beauty care line and in a letter to the beauty mogul, dated April 5, 1917, praised the benefits of the products on her own as well as her students’ hair and requested that one of her girls
This article, Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune: Innovator & Entrepreneur, was first published in EVOLVE Magazine in August 2021. The theme of the issue was INNOVATION. At that time we were also working on publishing a special edition of EVOLVE Magazine – Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune’ s Journey to National Statuary Hall. We learned much about Dr. Bethune that didn’ t fit in the special edition, such as her political activities and her entrepreneurial activities. It seemed to make sense to publish this article in EVOLVE to focus on her entrepreneurial activities. In addition, on the following page you’ ll find one of Dr. Bethune’ s poems, reflecting her vision of a diverse and unified world— a vision she often symbolized by presenting black roses to others.
On page 30 and 31 you’ ll see an infographic that reflects the highpoints of Dr. Mcleod’ s journey to the National Statuary Hall at the US Capitol as the FIRST Black person to represent one of two statues for each of the 50 states. However, the high point is not her enshrinement into the Hall, it is her impact during her life and her contributions to each of us here in Florida and throughout America.
We are honored to highlight Dr. Mary McLeod’ s Journey in this Inaugural Edition of ESTEBANA Magazine.
participate in Madame Walker’ s beauty training course at her New York College.
She was also instrumental in the success of the aforementioned Engram Electric, contracting most of the electrical projects for Bethune-Cookman University with the company.
Closer to home, Dr. Bethune founded Bethune Mortuary in the 1940s. Operated by her son, Albert McLeod Bethune, with his wife serving as mortician, the funeral home proved to be a lucrative business for
more than 25 years.“ She dabbled in many different businesses,” said
Dr. Tasha L. Youmans, Library Dean / Chief Librarian at Bethune-Cookman University.“ She saw a need; she established a business to meet that need.”
She Made a Difference in People’ s Lives
These are just a few examples of Dr. Bethune’ s legacy. At the time of her death on May 18, 1955, Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune was considered one of the greatest Black women to have lived. The Washington Post commented that“ not only are her own people, but all of America, has been enriched and ennobled by her courageous, ebullient spirit.”
“ She wasn’ t just an average educator,” Dr. Youmans said.“ She really had power. She moved quietly, but she was a force. Dr. Bethune was recognized by everyone, not just the Black community, but the white community as well, as being somebody. She made a difference in many people’ s lives.”
Howard M. Holley, Sr. CEO & Publisher ESTEBANA Magazine
E
Bethune-Cookman University staff members, Dr. Tasha L. Youmans, Library Dean / Chief Librarian; Mr. Thomas Jelneck, Director of Marketing and Communications; and Mrs. Linda Caldwell, writer, contributed to this article.
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