Breaking Barriers: The First Ladies of Education

by DeWitt S. Williams

A century ago, three Black women confronted racism at Ivy League schools, and against all odds, became the first African Americans to earn PhDs. The stories of Sadie T M Alexander, Eva B. Dykes and Georgiana Rose Simpson are not just portraits in courage, but illustrations of how personal perseverance can pave the way for peers and future generations. "Firsts are trailblazers. They go where no one else has been or thought to go." As he reviews each woman's background, from childhood to adulthood, and considers the psychological, social, and political perspectives that created their drive to succeed in a world that would seem impossible to penetrate, Williams produces an analysis that bridges the gap between personal experience and social change.
At issue are more than individual obstacles, but those of educational accreditation, standards of excellence, and many underlying admittance routines that kept Black women, in particular, from reaching higher education goals.
Seventeen black and white photos of each woman are excellent adjuncts to their stories, and bring them to life.

226 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 26, 2021

About the author

DeWitt S. Williams has been a pastor, missionary to Africa, and health director in the Adventist Church. He traveled to over 100 countries and all 50 states lecturing about the importance of good health. Dr. Williams has written or co-authored nine other books, among them She Fulfilled the Impossible Dream and Energized. He is retired and lives in Maryland.

Reviews

[Susan M · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an invaluable work with original research and a groundbreaking narrative on these fascinating pioneers. I really enjoyed learning about how these black women did the impossible a century ago. Highly recommended!

[Karen Bankston · Rating 3 out of 5]

The lives of these women were absolutely extraordinary. I struggled with the writing style, as it told their stories from different voices and it was challenging for me to follow.

[Jacqueline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well worth the read... . Thank you so much! His love for his teachers jumps from the page. There is no better tribute for an educator. Amazing detail and scholarship of connecting the dots... cross time, space, and acknowledging the importance of place and geography. It is an easy and quick read. There is something to be said for reading it in its entirety. Yet you could read the summary of each woman's life and come away with a better understanding of the challenges women in the academe experience. The power of the "me too" movement is that you may learn that it wasn't just you. You are not a stand alone single issue commodity. For some it is helpful to know that you may share an experience and you had created a narrative in which you were the only one.

One of my favorite things about this book is that it made me want to read more.. dig more and I learned so many NEW things. The notes and bibliography are SPECTACULAR. For instance every thing you wanted to know about the history of the Seventh Day Adventists denominational evolution, theology, and church history... I didn't see that one coming...
1921 was quite the year. Talk about synchronicity. The history of higher education in America when every single college and university is in the news and the populace at large struggles mightily with literacy and who and when and what they should learn. Read on...