Mary Bethune Park facts for kids

Mary Bethune Park is a public park located in South Los Angeles, California. You can find it at 1244 East 61st Street, close to where Central and Gage Avenues meet. The park is managed by the County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation, which is a local government group that takes care of parks. The Los Angeles Police Department's Newton Division helps keep the park safe.

The park is named after a very important person, Mary Jane McLeod Bethune. She was an amazing African-American leader who worked hard for education and civil rights. She also advised President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

What is Mary Bethune Park?

Mary Bethune Park is a community space where people can relax, play, and enjoy being outdoors. It's a place for families and friends to gather. The park is managed by the County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation, which makes sure the park is well-maintained and offers activities for everyone. Local police from the Newton Division also help ensure the park is a safe place for kids and adults.

Who Was Mary McLeod Bethune?

Mary Jane McLeod Bethune (1875–1955) was an inspiring American educator, civil rights activist, and government official. She dedicated her life to improving opportunities for African Americans, especially in education. She believed that education was the key to freedom and equality.

Early Life and Education

Mary McLeod Bethune was born in Mayesville, South Carolina, just ten years after slavery ended in the United States. Her parents were formerly enslaved people. She was the first in her family to be born free and the only one of her 17 siblings to go to school. She walked five miles each way to attend a small school for Black children. This experience made her realize how important education was.

She later attended Scotia Seminary (now Barber-Scotia College) in North Carolina and then the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. Her dream was to become a missionary in Africa, but she was told there were no openings for Black missionaries. Instead, she decided to dedicate her life to helping her own community in America.

Founding a School

In 1904, Mary McLeod Bethune moved to Daytona Beach, Florida, with very little money. She had a big dream: to open a school for African-American girls. She started the Daytona Educational and Industrial Training School for Negro Girls with just $1.50, five students, and crates for desks. She worked incredibly hard, baking pies, selling food, and asking for donations to keep the school going.

Over time, her school grew. In 1923, it merged with a nearby boys' school to become the Bethune-Cookman College (now Bethune-Cookman University). This was a huge achievement, showing her dedication to providing quality education for Black students during a time when it was often denied.

A Voice for Civil Rights

Beyond education, Mary McLeod Bethune was a powerful voice for civil rights. She fought against racial discrimination and worked to ensure that African Americans had equal rights and opportunities. She helped found and lead many important organizations, including the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) in 1935. The NCNW brought together many Black women's groups to work for social change and justice.

Advisor to the President

Mary McLeod Bethune became a close friend and advisor to President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his wife, Eleanor Roosevelt. During the 1930s, she served as a special advisor on minority affairs. She was part of what was unofficially known as the "Black Cabinet," a group of influential African-American advisors who helped shape government policies during the Great Depression. She worked to make sure that New Deal programs, which were designed to help Americans recover from the Depression, also benefited African Americans.

Her work in government made her the highest-ranking African-American woman in the U.S. government at that time. She used her position to advocate for equal pay, better housing, and an end to discrimination.

Legacy and Impact

Mary McLeod Bethune passed away in 1955, but her legacy lives on. She is remembered as a pioneer in education and civil rights. Her dedication helped open doors for countless African Americans and inspired many to fight for justice. Naming a park after her, like Mary Bethune Park in Los Angeles, is a way to honor her incredible contributions to American society and remind us of her important work.