A Brief Biography Of Mary Mcleod Bethune

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Lucy Maret March 10, 2014 Research Paper Mary McLeod Bethune was a strong woman who not only changed people’s minds through teaching, but changed peoples hearts with her words. She changed people in many ways as a result of teaching, as president of a school, and as a true African American woman. As a child, she wanted to teach and help others, and her dream came true. Mary McLeod Bethune is now remembered today for her many works. Originally named as Mary Jane McLeod, Mary was born and raised on July 10,1875 and she grew up in a log cabin in Mayesville, South Carolina. She was one of seventeen children in her family. She was the fifteenth child in her family, and grew up with former slaves in her life. Mary had very loving and caring parents whose names were Sam and Pasty McLeod. Her father, Sam, often worked on the farm that they owned. Her mother, Pasty delivered and picked white people’s laundry. Mary often got to come along and play with the mother’s daughter. Once, Mary got into a fight with a little white girl who said that Mary couldn’t read at that time in South Carolina, it was illegal to teach a black person. This made Mary mad, and she wanted to do something about it. When it came time for Mary to go to school, she often walked several miles everyday to get there. The McLeod family owned a family mule that they loved but sadly, the Mule got older. When it died, money was now needed to support their family. Unfortunately, their family quickly grew into bankruptcy and debt. Even though they owned a farm and worked on everyday. Some of the people in her family strained cotton in the fields, but most people picked cotton. Mary Jane McLeod was accepted to go to the Moody... ... middle of paper ... ...enned, “ My last will and Testament which served as a reflect ion on her own life. ( Source 1) This quote means that her last works served on a reflection back to her own life. Sadly, Mary McLeod Bethune died of a heart attack on May 18,1955. We look back on her life and our own lives and think what a remarkable thing she has done with her life. She will always be a wonderful woman for us to follow and she will guide us for education. She thought that education was key, and that is a good lesson I can learn from her. Before her death, she lived the rest of her life at Bethune Cookman College, which shows how dedicated and devoted she was. “ In her efforts, she has inspired us with her inner strength and passion made her a truly remarkable figure of time.” ( Source 4) Her strength made her a unique person and a wonderful woman in her own time.

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