First published 1985
Mary McLeod Bethune begins her life picking cotton in the fields of South Carolina. Born into poverty, she dreams of something beyond the endless rows of white bolls under the Southern sun. Her determination to learn drives her from the rural countryside toward a destiny she can barely imagine. Mary fights for education when few believe a black girl deserves one. She transforms from student to teacher, building schools with her own hands when none exist for her people. Her voice grows stronger as she challenges a system designed to keep her silent. Mary becomes a crusader for civil rights, carrying her message from small Southern towns to the halls of power in Washington. She advises presidents and shapes policy that will change countless lives. This story follows Mary's journey from the cotton fields of her childhood to the corridors of influence, showing how one woman's refusal to accept limitations can reshape a nation's future.
Genres: biography, 20th-century, american, african-american, 21st-century, african-american-historical-fiction, american-history
Vibes: inspirational, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: inspirational-figure, overcoming-adversity
Setting: South Carolina, Washington
Period: 19th-century, 20th-century
111 pages · Library Binding · Childrens Pr