Mary McLeod Bethune (July 10, 1875–May 18, 1955), born to former slaves a decade after the end of the American Civil War, devoted her life to ensuring the right to education and freedom from discrimination forb lack Americans. Bethune believed that through education, blacks could begin to earn a living in a country that still opposed racial equality. Bethune worked tirelessly until her death and would not rest while there was "a single Negro boy or girl without a chance to prove his worth."

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mary_McLeod_Bethune