Washington D.C. - Wednesday July 13, 2022: A statue of Florida educator and civil rights activist Mary Jane McLeod Bethune was unveiled at the U.S. Capital Wednesday.
Dr. Bethune is the first African American to represent a state in the National Statuary Hall inside the U.S. Capitol building. Statuary Hall includes two statues donated by each state. Dr. Bethune's statue replaces a statue of Confederate General Edmund Kirby Smith.
In 2018, the Florida Legislature voted in favor of the creation and installation of the statue, and in 2019, former Governor Scott signed it, Governor DeSantis made the formal requested to Congress to asked that Dr. Bethune represent Florida in Statuary Hall. Then in 2020, Florida Representatives Michael Waltz (R: FL-6) and and Val Demings (D: FL-10) introduced the legislation to make it happen.
Members of the late Dr. Bethune's family joined members of Florida's Congressional delegation for the unveiling ceremony.
Representative Val Demings of Orlando spoke of Dr. Bethune's determination at the turn of the last century to provide education to blacks who were denied it.
"As I listened to my parents tell the story it seemed impossible. But Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune made what seemed impossible, possible," said Rep. Demings. "Dr. Bethune went on to become one of the most powerful educators and most influential women in Florida's history, and in the history of our nation."
Representative Kathy Castor of Miami talked about the statue’s symbolism.
"Her spirit is captured in this beautiful sculpture by Neil Decomis," said Rep. Castor. "Note the cap and gown of an educator, the smile and sunny outlook, the gold lettering that shines like the Florida sun, the cane gifted her by President Roosevelt, and of course the distinctive black rose that represents the students she educated, encouraged and loved."
And Representative Michael Waltz read from Dr. Bethune’s last will and testament.
"She says I leave you love. I leave you hope, I leave you a thirst for education. I leave you faith. With out faith nothing is possible, and with it nothing is impossible."
Life of Dr. Bethune
Born in South Carolina in 1875 , Dr. Bethune started a private school for African-American students in Daytona Beach which later grew into Bethune-Cookman University.
Among her many accomplishments Dr. Bethune founded the National Council of Negro Women in 1935, she was also appointed as a national adviser to president Roosevelt, who she worked with to create the Federal Council on Colored Affairs, also known as the Black Cabinet. Dr. Bethune was the only African American woman officially a part of the US delegation that created the United Nations charter.
For her lifetime of activism, Dr. Bethune was named "First Lady of Negro America" by Ebony magazine in July 1949, and was known by the Black Press as the "Female Booker T. Washington". She died in 1955.