Juliette Derricotte facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Juliette Derricotte
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Juliette Derricotte, graduation, 1918
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| Born | April 1, 1897 Athens, Georgia, US
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| Died | November 7, 1931 (aged 34) |
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Juliette Derricotte (born April 1, 1897 – died November 7, 1931) was an American educator. She worked to make things fairer for everyone. Her death caused a lot of anger in the African-American community. This happened after she was turned away from a hospital that only treated white people, following a serious car accident in Chattanooga, Tennessee. At the time, she was the Dean of Women at Fisk University.
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Juliette's Early Life
Juliette Derricotte was born in Athens, Georgia. She was the fifth of nine children. Her father, Isaac Derricotte, was a cobbler (someone who fixes shoes). Her mother, Laura Derricotte, was a seamstress (someone who sews clothes).
As a child, Juliette wanted to go to the Lucy Cobb Institute in Athens. But the school was segregated. This meant it only accepted white girls and did not allow Black girls. This experience helped Juliette understand unfairness. It made her want to change people's ideas about race.
Education and Important Work
Juliette was a great public speaker. Her skills earned her a scholarship to attend Talladega College. After she graduated in 1918, she joined the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) Training School.
Leading the YWCA Student Council
Juliette became a secretary for the YWCA's National Student Council. Her job was to visit colleges, plan meetings, and help students become leaders. She helped make the council more open and fair for all students, no matter their race.
Traveling the World
In 1924, Juliette joined the World Student Christian Federation. She traveled the world as a representative for American colleges. She shared ideas and learned from others.
In 1927, she earned a master's degree in religious education from Columbia University. She left her YWCA job in 1929. Then, she became the Dean of Women at Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee.
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority
Juliette was also an active member of Delta Sigma Theta. This is a sorority, which is like a club for women in college. After she died, Delta Sigma Theta created a scholarship in her honor. This scholarship helps sorority members who work in social services.
Juliette's Tragic Death
In 1931, Juliette Derricotte was in a car accident in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The car she was in, driven by another student, crashed with a car driven by a white couple. Juliette and the student were badly hurt.
White doctors gave them emergency help. However, they were not allowed into the local hospital because they were Black. They were moved to a local woman's house. Both Juliette and the student died there by the next morning. This event caused a lot of anger across the country. Several groups, including the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, started investigations.
Juliette's Lasting Legacy
Juliette Derricotte inspired many people. Sue Bailey Thurman was one of them. She started the Juliette Derricotte Scholarship in the 1930s. This scholarship helped African-American college women with good grades study and travel in other countries.
Years later, Margaret Bush Wilson, who had received the scholarship herself, helped bring it back. Juliette's work continues to inspire students today.
