Introduction
Mary McLeod Bethune’s My Last Will and Testament reflects on a lifetime of educational research and activism. She wrote this as a beacon for the advancement of negro men and women. She had few possessions to leave when she passed, but had a wealth of experiences she could share with others.
Ideas About Higher Education
Bethune views higher education from a holistic approach with a focus on the developmental aspect on both the individual and group levels. In the article she states, “As long as Negroes are hemmed into racial blocs by prejudice and pressure, it will be necessary for them to band together for economic betterment” (Bethune, 1992, p. 110). This played a large part in why she founded Daytona Normal and Industrial Institute …show more content…
In the article she states, “We must make an effort to be less race conscious and more conscious of individual and human values. I have never been sensitive about my complexion” (Bethune, 1992, p. 112). Bethune also was an experiential educator that linked her personal story to how other Negroes can overcome adversity and succeed. In the article she states, “I have not let my color handicap me. Despite many crushing burdens and handicaps, I have risen from the cotton fields of South Carolina to found a college, administer it during its years of growth, become a public servant in the government of our country and a leader of women” (Bethune, 1992, p. …show more content…
She then founded the Daytona Literary and Industrial School for Training Negro Girls in October 1904. When it was founded, there was only six students. There were five girls, and her own son. There were no desks, pencils, or ink when she opened the school. Instead they used crates as desks, charcoal as pencils, and crushed berries as ink. She started the school by purchasing land on a dump in Daytona Beach, Florida for $1.50. As the school grew, Bethune needed to begin to seek outside donations from other sources. In 1912, she gained the interest of James Gamble of the Proctor and Gamble Company. He contributed to the school and served as chairman on its Board of Trustees until he passed. In 1923, the school merged with the Cookman Institute in Jacksonville, Florida. It then became known as the Bethune-Cookman Collegiate Institute, and then was later renamed Bethune-Cookman College. Bethune served as president until her retirement in 1942. She remained a trustee until she passed. By 1955, the college had an enrollment of over 1,000 students. She also was founder of the National Council of Negro Women and served as a special advisor to Presidents Roosevelt and
Mary McLeod Bethune’s My Last Will and Testament reflects on a lifetime of educational research and activism. She wrote this as a beacon for the advancement of negro men and women. She had few possessions to leave when she passed, but had a wealth of experiences she could share with others.
Ideas About Higher Education
Bethune views higher education from a holistic approach with a focus on the developmental aspect on both the individual and group levels. In the article she states, “As long as Negroes are hemmed into racial blocs by prejudice and pressure, it will be necessary for them to band together for economic betterment” (Bethune, 1992, p. 110). This played a large part in why she founded Daytona Normal and Industrial Institute …show more content…
In the article she states, “We must make an effort to be less race conscious and more conscious of individual and human values. I have never been sensitive about my complexion” (Bethune, 1992, p. 112). Bethune also was an experiential educator that linked her personal story to how other Negroes can overcome adversity and succeed. In the article she states, “I have not let my color handicap me. Despite many crushing burdens and handicaps, I have risen from the cotton fields of South Carolina to found a college, administer it during its years of growth, become a public servant in the government of our country and a leader of women” (Bethune, 1992, p. …show more content…
She then founded the Daytona Literary and Industrial School for Training Negro Girls in October 1904. When it was founded, there was only six students. There were five girls, and her own son. There were no desks, pencils, or ink when she opened the school. Instead they used crates as desks, charcoal as pencils, and crushed berries as ink. She started the school by purchasing land on a dump in Daytona Beach, Florida for $1.50. As the school grew, Bethune needed to begin to seek outside donations from other sources. In 1912, she gained the interest of James Gamble of the Proctor and Gamble Company. He contributed to the school and served as chairman on its Board of Trustees until he passed. In 1923, the school merged with the Cookman Institute in Jacksonville, Florida. It then became known as the Bethune-Cookman Collegiate Institute, and then was later renamed Bethune-Cookman College. Bethune served as president until her retirement in 1942. She remained a trustee until she passed. By 1955, the college had an enrollment of over 1,000 students. She also was founder of the National Council of Negro Women and served as a special advisor to Presidents Roosevelt and