A few days ago, Yale University's School of Medicine honored its first African American Women Graduates.
"We are delighted to celebrate the accomplishments of these extraordinary African Americans who courageously broke the racial barrier at Yale School of Medicine," said Yale School of Medicine Dean Dr. Robert Alpern, "All subsequent students, both minority and non-minority, owe them a debt of gratitude."
One of the graduates, Beatrix Ann (McCleary) Hamburg's achievement in 1948 as Yale's first African-American woman to graduate with a medical degree was not the first barrier broken in her career. She was the first self-identified African American to graduate from Vassar College, the last of the historic "Seven Sister" colleges to integrate.
Coming from a family of scholars and as a African American woman who has achieved a Master's degree, I felt particularly drawn to these ladies and their achievements. Today, African American women have a college graduation rate of 64%. Thank you Yvette Fay Francis-McBarnette, M.D. and Beatrix Ann (McCleary) Hamburg's M.D. for paving the way! Oh, and did I forget to mention that these ladies were both beautiful and stylish! Check out this picture, I just love it!
