Explore the New Exhibit in Washington, D.C. Celebrating an Influential Female Civil Rights Leader — Key Details

Mary McLeod Bethune's impact on racial and gender equality runs deep, making her one of the most notable educators, civil rights advocates, and government figures of the 20th century. A new permanent exhibit now pays tribute to her numerous societal contributions.

Last month, the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C., launched “Force for Change: Mary McLeod Bethune and Black Women’s Activism.” Visitors can delve deeper into Bethune’s legacy, her organizations, and the experiences of other African American women activists.

Born in South Carolina in 1875, Bethune was one of 17 siblings born to parents who had been enslaved. After completing her education at Scotia Seminary and the Bible Institute for Home and Foreign Missions, she served as a teacher in Georgia and South Carolina.

In 1904, she founded the Daytona Educational and Industrial Training School for Negro Girls. Her determination and vision propelled the institution’s growth, leading to its merger with the all-male Cookman Institute in 1929 to create Bethune-Cookman College, which awarded its first degrees in 1943.

Bethune's impact reached far beyond education. In 1924, she became the president of the National Association of Colored Women. Her dedication to promoting the rights of African American women continued as the founding president of the National Council of Negro Women in 1935.

A close friend of Eleanor Roosevelt, Bethune made history as the highest-ranking African American woman in government when President Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed her as director of Negro Affairs for the National Youth Administration, a role she held from 1936 to 1944.

In 1940, she assumed the role of vice president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, a position she maintained for the remainder of her life. She passed away in 1955 and is buried on a hill overlooking Bethune-Cookman University.

The new exhibit showcases Bethune’s life along with fresh narratives related to other Black women activists through 35 artifacts, 75 photographs, and two digital media presentations. Notable items include the climbing gear worn by Bree Newsome, who removed the Confederate flag from the South Carolina State House in 2015, and Etta Moten Barnett’s intricately designed desk, which contains passports and convention badges from her travels as an unofficial U.S. diplomat.

“Despite overwhelming challenges, the women featured in this exhibition established educational institutions, sparked social and political movements, founded lasting organizations, and created beauty across diverse art forms, all while representing their country both nationally and internationally,” said Tulani Salahu-Din, a museum specialist in language and literature at NMAAHC, in a statement to Dinogo.

Bethune’s legacy is evident throughout Washington, D.C. The Mary McLeod Bethune Council House, her final residence in the city and the birthplace of the National Council of Negro Women, is now recognized as a National Historic Site. This historic house is a short stroll from the vibrant African American U Street neighborhood, home to many Black-owned businesses, including the famous Ben’s Chili Bowl and the modern Caribbean eatery, St. James.