Mary McLeod Bethune was a prominent African American educator, civil rights activist, and government official. She was born in 1875 in South Carolina to formerly enslaved parents. Bethune dedicated her life to improving education and opportunities for African Americans.

In 1904, she founded the Daytona Educational and Industrial Training School for Negro Girls in Florida, which later merged with a male institution to become Bethune-Cookman College (now Bethune-Cookman University). This institution provided education opportunities for African Americans and trained teachers and leaders in the Black community.

Bethune was a key figure in the National Association of Colored Women (NACW) and the founding president of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW), organizations dedicated to advocating for civil rights and social justice. She was also appointed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to serve as the director of the National Youth Administration's Division of Negro Affairs, becoming the first African American woman to lead a federal agency.

Mary McLeod Bethune was a tireless advocate for racial equality and women's rights. Her legacy continues to inspire generations of activists and leaders in the ongoing fight for social justice and equality.