Lawson A. Scruggs facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lawson Andrew Scruggs
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| Born | January 15, 1857 |
| Died | December 1, 1914 (aged 57) |
| Alma mater | Shaw University |
| Occupation | physician, writer |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Lucie Johnson (1864–1892) Phoebe Turner (1856–1939) |
Lawson Andrew Scruggs (1857–1914) was an important African-American doctor in North Carolina. He worked hard for equal rights and was involved in politics. In 1893, he wrote a famous book called Women of Distinction, which shared stories about amazing African-American women.
Lawson Scruggs' Early Life
Lawson Scruggs was born into slavery in Virginia in 1857. This was just before the American Civil War (1861–1865) began. His parents were George W. and Maria W. Scruggs.
A group called the American Baptist Home Mission Society helped pay for his schooling. He went on to earn a medical degree from Leonard Medical School at Shaw University in 1887.
Lawson Scruggs' Career and Work
Lawson Andrew Scruggs met Lucie Johnson at Shaw University. They got married on February 22, 1888. After they married, they moved to Raleigh, North Carolina.
After they finished medical school, Scruggs and two of his classmates, J. T. Williams and Manassa Thomas Pope, tried to join the North Carolina Medical Association. But they were not allowed to join because they were Black. So, they decided to start their own group. With A. B. Moore, they created a new society called the Old North State Medical Society.
Later, Scruggs became a doctor at St. Agnes Hospital in Raleigh. He also taught at Leonard Medical School.
During the late 1890s and early 1900s, it became very difficult for Black people in North Carolina. Many Black families moved to the West to find a better life. Scruggs, along with his classmates J. T. Williams and Manassa Pope, and other leaders like James H. Young, Samuel Vick, and Henry P. Cheatham, worked to support Black Republicans who stayed in North Carolina. Scruggs believed in working together for peace and stability between different groups.
Supporting African-American Women
Scruggs was a strong supporter of African-American women. In 1893, he published his book, Women of Distinction. Another book about Black women, Noted Negro Women by Monroe Alpheus Majors, also came out that year. These books were important because they focused on the achievements of Black women.
Scruggs felt that African-American women were often treated unfairly. He believed that for a Black woman to become successful, she had to "fight a fierce and bloody battle almost every step of her way." His book helped to show the world the amazing strength and accomplishments of these women.
