No. 89: Anna Julia Cooper
Episode Transcript
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What happens when a former enslaved woman decides that education is her weapon of choice? You get a pioneer who challenges the very foundations of inequality—meet Anna Julia Cooper.
Hey everyone, I’m Shae, a PhD candidate at Harvard, and welcome to "100 Historic Black Women You Should Know By Election Day." Today, we’re exploring the extraordinary life of Anna Julia Cooper, a woman whose passion for education and social justice changed the course of history.
Born into slavery in 1858, Anna Julia Cooper’s journey from bondage to brilliance is nothing short of awe-inspiring. After the Civil War, she enrolled at Saint Augustine’s Normal School and Collegiate Institute in Raleigh, North Carolina. Her academic talents quickly became evident, and she went on to earn her Bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Oberlin College—a rare accomplishment for any woman, let alone a Black woman in the 19th century.
Anna Julia Cooper didn’t just excel in academia; she used her education as a platform to uplift others. As a principal and teacher at the M Street High School in Washington, D.C., one of the first public high schools for Black students, she shaped the futures of countless young men and women. Her influence was profound, pushing the boundaries of what was possible for Black students in an era of deep racial segregation.
Her most significant work, "A Voice from the South " is a groundbreaking collection of essays that championed the education and rights of Black women. Cooper argued that the progress of Black women was essential not just for the African American community but for the nation as a whole.
At an age when most people are thinking of retirement, Cooper pursued a PhD at the University of Paris-Sorbonne, earning it with a groundbreaking thesis on the French attitudes toward slavery during the revolution. At the age of 65, she became one of the first Black women to earn a PhD—a testament to her lifelong commitment to learning. Anna Julia Cooper lived to be 105 years old, and in her century of life, she witnessed—and contributed to—some of the most significant social changes in American history.
Here’s a fascinating tidbit: In 2009, Anna Julia Cooper was honored with her own U.S. postage stamp, making her one of the first African American women to receive this recognition. Her words, “The cause of freedom is not the cause of a race or a sect, a party or a class—it is the cause of humankind, the very birthright of humanity,” were produced on the stamp, ensuring her legacy would be carried far and wide.
If Anna Julia Cooper’s story has moved you, please rate this podcast 5 stars so more people can discover the incredible stories of these historic Black women. Don’t forget to follow me on social media for more insights and subscribe to my YouTube channel for even more powerful stories. Thanks for listening, and I’ll see you next time on "100 Historic Black Women You Should Know By Election Day."
