Meet mary mcleod bethune an african american educator who fought poverty and discrimination fact filled rookie read about biographies introduce the youngest readers to influential women and men both past and present. Born mary jane mcleod on july 10 1875 in mayesville south carolina mary mcleod bethune was a leading educator and civil rights activist she grew up in poverty as one of 17 children born to. Mary jane mcleod bethune born mary jane mcleod july 10 1875 may 18 1955 was an american educator stateswoman philanthropist humanitarian womanist and civil rights activistbethune founded the national council for negro women in 1935 established the organizations flagship journal aframerican womens journal and resided as president or leader for myriad african american womens . Born on july 10 1875 near maysville south carolina bethune was one of the last of samuel and patsy mcleods seventeen children after the civil war her mother worked for her former owner until she could buy the land on which the family grew cotton by age nine bethune could pick 250 pounds of cotton a day