Mamie Geraldine Neale Bledsoe facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mamie Neale Bledsoe
Mamie Geraldine Neale Bledsoe, from a 1924 publication.
Born	Mamie Geraldine Neale 1900 Louisburg, North Carolina
Died	March 1, 1991 Detroit, Michigan
Nationality	American
Occupation	civil rights activist, government official

Mamie Geraldine Neale Bledsoe (born 1900, died 1991) was an amazing American woman. She was a teacher and a strong fighter for equal rights for all people. She led the Equal Employment Opportunity Division in Michigan.

In 1983, she was honored in the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame. This is a special place for important women in Michigan's history.

Mamie Bledsoe's Early Life

Mamie Geraldine Neale, also known as "Gerry," was born in Louisburg, North Carolina. She grew up in Freehold, New Jersey. Her parents were Thomas Neale and Ellen Gatsey Neale.

In 1919, she earned a teaching certificate from Trenton Normal School. This allowed her to become a teacher. She also took a summer class at Rutgers University. There, she met and dated Paul Robeson, who later became a famous singer and activist. Mamie finished her college degree at Howard University in 1924.

Her Work and Activism

Mamie Bledsoe moved to Michigan with her husband in the 1920s. She started working as a teacher, helping adults learn to read and write. During the Great Depression, she worked for the Works Progress Administration (WPA). This was a government program that created jobs for many people.

She also worked as an interviewer for the Michigan Unemployment Compensation Commission. This organization helped people who had lost their jobs. Mamie was a member of the Detroit Study Club, a group of Black women who loved literature.

Mamie Bledsoe was very active in the civil rights movement. She served on the board of the Detroit chapter of the NAACP. This group works to ensure equal rights for all people. She also helped the Women's Division of the United Negro College Fund. This fund helps Black students go to college.

Mamie Bledsoe became the director of Michigan's Equal Employment Opportunity Division. This important job meant she worked to make sure everyone had a fair chance at jobs. She retired from this role in 1970.

In 1980, the Detroit Urban League gave her the "Distinguished Warrior Award." This award recognized her strong efforts for justice. In 1983, she was one of the first people chosen for the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame.

Mamie Bledsoe's Family Life

Mamie Neale married Harold Edward Bledsoe, a lawyer, in 1924. They had three children: Cornelia, Geraldine, and William. Their family was very accomplished.

Her daughter, Geraldine Bledsoe Ford, became a judge. Her son, William Bledsoe III, also became a judge. Her daughter, Cornelia, created an early preschool program in Detroit. This program later became a model for the national Head Start program, which helps young children from low-income families.

Mamie's husband, Harold, passed away in 1974. Mamie Bledsoe herself died in 1991 at the age of 91. She passed away at her daughter's home in Detroit. After her death, the Michigan government honored her with a special resolution. This resolution remembered all her important achievements.