Mabel Keaton Staupers was a prominent figure in Black history who played a significant role in advancing healthcare for African Americans in the United States. Born in Barbados in 1890, Staupers immigrated to the U.S. in 1917 to pursue a career in nursing.

Staupers faced racial discrimination while working as a nurse in both the U.S. and Barbados, but she persevered and became a trailblazer in the field. She was a staunch advocate for equal rights and opportunities for Black nurses, and she was a key figure in the integration of African Americans into the American Nurses Association (ANA) in the 1940s.

One of Staupers' most notable achievements was her leadership in the fight to end racial barriers in the U.S. military nursing corps during World War II. She successfully lobbied the federal government to allow Black nurses to serve in the Army and Navy Nurse Corps, breaking down longstanding racial segregation in the military.

Staupers' efforts paved the way for greater opportunities for Black nurses and helped to expand access to quality healthcare for African Americans in the U.S. Her legacy continues to inspire future generations of healthcare professionals and activists in the ongoing struggle for racial equity and justice.