No. 79: Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander

Episode Transcript

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What if I told you that one woman broke barriers in not just one, but two of the most male-dominated fields of her time—economics and law? Meet Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander, the trailblazer who did just that.

Hey everyone, I’m Shae, a PhD candidate at Harvard, and welcome back to 100 Historic Black Women You Should Know By Election Day. Today we’re diving into the remarkable story of Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander, a woman whose brilliance and tenacity rewrote the rules for what Black women could achieve.

Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander was born in 1898 into a family that understood the power of education and perseverance. In 1921, she made history as the first African American to earn a PhD in economics from the University of Pennsylvania. Her pioneering research focused on the economic challenges faced by Black workers in Philadelphia, shedding light on issues that mainstream economists had largely ignored. Her work wasn’t just about numbers; it was about people—about pushing the boundaries of what economic studies could address.

Alexander didn’t stop at economics. In 1927, she became the first Black woman to graduate from Penn’s law school and quickly established herself as a formidable lawyer in Pennsylvania. Her dual expertise in law and economics made her uniquely equipped to tackle the systemic issues that plagued African Americans. She advocated for fair employment practices, equal pay, and civil rights, using her voice and legal prowess to challenge the status quo.

Her legacy is one of relentless advocacy. As a founding member of the National Bar Association, Alexander was at the forefront of the fight for legal representation for African Americans. She was also appointed by President Truman to his Committee on Civil Rights in 1946, where she played a critical role in shaping the policies that would later fuel the Civil Rights Movement. Alexander's impact on the field of economics is still felt today, as her work laid the foundation for economic studies that address racial inequality and labor market disparities.

Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander wasn’t just a scholar or a lawyer—she was a visionary who understood that economic empowerment was essential for true freedom and equality. Her work remains a cornerstone in the fields of economics and civil rights.

Here’s something you might not know—Sadie’s drive for excellence ran in the family. Her uncle, Lewis Baxter Moore, was the first African American to earn a PhD from the University of Pennsylvania, and her father, Aaron Albert Mossell, was the first Black graduate of Penn’s law school. The Mossell family was setting records long before Sadie came along.

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