A new statue unveiled today at the U. S. Capitol marks a historic
first civil rights pioneer Mary McLeod Bethune is the first black
American to represent a state in Statuary Hall.
Congressional leaders celebrated the unveiling and buffoons legacy.
How poetic the doctor soon replaces a little known Confederate general
trading a trader for a civil rights hero in the capital of the United
States. Dr. Bethune wasn't just a great Floridian.
She was a great American.
American who refused to accept that her humble beginnings or the
color of her skin.
We're a limit on her dreams and on her destiny.
And an American who in the face of the ignorance, the cruelty and
the prejudice of others.
She refused to surrender bitterness, cynicism or despair.
Lisa Desjardin has more on the unveiling.
Each state has two statues representing them. In the U. S. CAPITOL,
Florida lawmakers voted to remove one of there's a statue representing
a Confederate general and replace it with a statue of Bethune.
Joining me now is her granddaughter Evelyn Bethune and Evelyn. Your
grandmother is especially known for her pioneering and relentless
work in education. That's why she is depicted in the U. S. Capitol
is wearing a cap and gown fact.
She created what would become the Thune Cookman University, Starting
with just a dollar 50. It ultimately became a historically black
university.
Tell us more about what she did. Well, I think the key element is
to know that in order for her to found the school, she had to be
a great organizer and fund rising fundraiser.
Um, But then Cookman University sits on what was the city garbage
dump, which there was the only land they would give her, Uh, let
her purchase during that time period.
Because you know women weren't really allowed women, black or white.
We're not allowed to vote make decisions by property or anything
unless a man gave them permission or assisted them.
And so for her to acquire this property for $250 and work out a deal
because she only had a dollar and 50 cents was quite amazing for
that time period, But my grandmother took those skills and she built
relationships.
With people like the Roosevelts, and she made sure
that she was able to organized communities and people to vote. Once
the vote was given to women. She registered women to vote across
this country. She founded the National Council of Negro Women.
Which is an organization that was made up of women in leadership
in the organizations within their communities, and at one point they
had over five million women, uh, in their membership. That's a huge
voting block and with that carries a lot of power.
You know, we met earlier today at Statuary Hall ahead of the unveiling
of the statue, and that's a very special place. It is also a place
where there are still statues representing confederates. And I just
wonder what it was like for you that moment when her statue was unveiled
looking in that place.
What you think that meant for the capital and for our country.
For us As a family. It is a position of pride. That's very humbling.
Where we think of, um our grandmother, Uh, descendant being a part
of statuary Hall.
The fact that there are Confederate soldiers there is, you know very
interesting to me since they lost the war.
And you know it speaks volumes in terms of the thinking of, uh, the
people who placed it there How they still hold on to
The tenants of, you know, enslavement and, uh,
Unequal access. My grandmother is a reminder of the good that comes
when we share power.
When we, uh give access to everyone and when we make voting accessible
to everyone, easily, uh and not to make it so difficult that you
know you can't get registered. You can't get to the polls.
And that's not what this country is about. This country is about
freedom. Interesting. You talk about the power of representation
in this country. And it was the Florida Legislature that decided
you're a grandmother was the one to represent the state to change
the image it presented at the capital, But we also know in recent
months, the Florida Legislature and governor have decided that they
want to limit
What teachers can actually say in classrooms about race and about
our history of race, And I wonder what you think that means in general
for society, but also for your grandmother's place in history.
Well, my grandmother's place in history is solid. There is very little
that they can do to change her accomplishments. If we unless we sit
back and allow that to happen, which is not going to happen, it's
a double ed sword.
On one hand, we want to have freedom of speech and freedom to carry
weapons. But on the other, we don't want to give you, uh, the ability
to talk about the history of enslavement, because if we don't talk
about it, we will try to repeat it. And Americans who relish and
cherish freedom have to stand up.
And vote and remove people from office who think that we should go
back to Jim Crow in the 19 twenties.
Evelyn Bison. Thank you so much for sharing with us What you know
about your grandmother.
You're wrong.