Mary McLeod Bethune was a prominent African American educator, civil rights leader, and women's rights activist. She was born in South Carolina in 1875 to former slaves and faced numerous challenges growing up in the segregated South. Despite these obstacles, Bethune was determined to receive an education and eventually became the only member of her family to attend school.

Bethune went on to establish the Daytona Educational and Industrial Training School for Negro Girls in Florida in 1904, which later merged with the Cookman Institute for Men to become Bethune-Cookman College. She also founded the National Council of Negro Women in 1935, an organization dedicated to advancing the rights and opportunities of African American women.

Throughout her career, Bethune worked tirelessly to improve educational opportunities for African Americans and fought for racial equality. She served as an advisor to several U.S. presidents, including Franklin D. Roosevelt, and was a key figure in advancing civil rights during the early 20th century.

Mary McLeod Bethune's legacy continues to inspire and empower individuals to this day, and she remains an influential figure in Black history for her tireless advocacy for equality and education.