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Honoring a trailblazer: 150 Years of Mary McLeod Bethune

Advocate for African-American and women’s rights had a major impact on Florida and beyond

Phil Landeros, Manager of Content and Coverage

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Evelyn Bethune, front left in yellow, a granddaughter of Mary McLeod Bethune, speaks with Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, as members of the Congressional Black Caucus gather around an unveiled statue of Mary McLeod Bethune, at a ceremony for the statue, which is the first state statue of a Black woman in Statuary Hall, Wednesday, July 13, 2022, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., is at front right. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
A woman wears a pin of Mary McLeod Bethune, during a statue unveiling ceremony in honor of Bethune in Statuary Hall, Wednesday, July 13, 2022, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. Bethune, the founder of Bethune-Cookman University, was one of Americas most important educators, civil and womens rights leaders and government officials of the 20th century. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi of Calif., second from left, gestures to Sen. Marco Rubio, D-Fla., as Rep. Val Demings, D-Fla., and Rep. Frederica Wilson, D-Fla., center, react along with members of the Florida Congressional Delegation, during the unveiling of a state statue from Florida of Mary McLeod Bethune, in Statuary Hall, Wednesday, July 13, 2022, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
A statue of Mary McLeod Bethune, far right, is seen among the other statues in Statuary Hall, Wednesday, July 13, 2022, during a ceremony unveiling the new statue at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. Civil rights leader and trailblazing educator Bethune on Wednesday became the first Black person elevated by a state for recognition in the Capitol's Statuary Hall. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi of Calif., speaks in front of a statue of civil rights leader and trailblazing educator Mary McLeod Bethune, during a ceremony in honor of Bethune in Statuary Hall, Wednesday, July 13, 2022, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. Bethune on Wednesday became the first Black person elevated by a state for recognition in the Capitol's Statuary Hall. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
FILE - U.S. President Harry Truman, from left, poses with Mary McLeod Bethune, retiring founder-president of the National Council of Negro Women, Madame Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit, Ambassador of India to the United States, and Dr. Ralph Bunche, United Nations Director of Trusteeship, in Washington on Nov. 15, 1949. They were presented with citations for outstanding citizenship. Civil rights leader and trailblazing educator Mary McLeod Bethune has became the first Black person elevated by a state for recognition in the Capitols Statuary Hall. (AP Photo/Harvey Georges, File)

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Evelyn Bethune, front left in yellow, a granddaughter of Mary McLeod Bethune, speaks with Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, as members of the Congressional Black Caucus gather around an unveiled statue of Mary McLeod Bethune, at a ceremony for the statue, which is the first state statue of a Black woman in Statuary Hall, Wednesday, July 13, 2022, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., is at front right. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – July 10, 2025, marks the 150th anniversary of the birth of Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, a towering figure in American history and a pioneering advocate for African American and women’s rights.

Born on July 10, 1875, in Mayesville, South Carolina, to formerly enslaved parents, Dr. Bethune rose to prominence as the founder of what is now Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, Florida. Her dedication to education and civil rights made her a powerful force for change during the 20th century.

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In honor of her enduring legacy, a bronze statue of Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune was unveiled in August 2022 at the Bethune Pavilion in Riverfront Esplanade, located at 249 N. Beach Street in Daytona Beach. This statue serves as a lasting tribute to her contributions and inspiration.

Additionally, her influence is commemorated in Washington, D.C., with a statue in Lincoln Park. This statue, originally dedicated in 1974, was re-dedicated in 2024 on its 50th anniversary, in partnership with the National Council of Negro Women.

The Mary McLeod Bethune Memorial in Lincoln Park, Washington, D.C. (National Park Service)

A special celebration of Dr. Bethune’s 150-year legacy will take place at Lincoln Park in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, July 12, 2025, at 4:30 p.m.

Vincent Vaise, Program Manager for Visitor Services at the National Park Service, highlights her significance, saying, “Mary McLeod Bethune was a visionary. She was the most powerful leader in the Civil Rights movement during the 1940s and turned education into a tool for liberation and civic power. We hope people of all ages join us to celebrate her 150th birthday and be inspired by the example she set.”

FILE - U.S. President Harry Truman, from left, poses with Mary McLeod Bethune, retiring founder-president of the National Council of Negro Women, Madame Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit, Ambassador of India to the United States, and Dr. Ralph Bunche, United Nations Director of Trusteeship, in Washington on Nov. 15, 1949. They were presented with citations for outstanding citizenship. Civil rights leader and trailblazing educator Mary McLeod Bethune has became the first Black person elevated by a state for recognition in the Capitols Statuary Hall. (AP Photo/Harvey Georges, File) (Copyright 1949 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune’s life and work continue to inspire generations, reminding us of the power of education, leadership, and the fight for equality. This milestone anniversary celebrates not only her remarkable achievements but also her lasting impact on American society.

Copyright 2025 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved.

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