Mabel Keaton Staupers was a pioneering African American nurse and healthcare advocate who made significant contributions to the field of nursing and nursing education. Born in 1890 in Barbados, Staupers immigrated to the United States in 1903 and eventually pursued a career in nursing.

Staupers is perhaps best known for her advocacy work surrounding the integration of African American nurses into the American Red Cross during World War II. At the time, the Red Cross barred African American nurses from serving, citing segregation policies. Staupers, as the executive secretary of the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses, led a successful campaign to pressure the Red Cross to change its policies and allow African American nurses to contribute to the war effort.

Staupers' efforts paved the way for the integration of African American nurses into the Red Cross and helped to dismantle racial barriers in the nursing profession. She continued to advocate for racial equality in healthcare throughout her career, working to improve opportunities for African American nurses and ensure that all individuals had access to quality healthcare.

Mabel Keaton Staupers' legacy lives on as a trailblazer in the field of nursing and a champion for racial equality in healthcare. Her work has had a lasting impact on the nursing profession and serves as an inspiration to all those who strive for justice and equality.