Mary McLeod Bethune the Pan-Africanist

Highlighting Bethune's global activism andher connections throughout the African diaspora Thisbook examines the Pan-Africanism of Mary McLeod Bethune through her work, whichinternationalized the scope of Black women s organizations to create solidarityamong Africans throughout the diaspora. Broadening the familiar view of Bethuneas an advocate for racial and gender equality within the United States, AshleyPreston argues that Bethune consistently sought to unify African descendants aroundthe world with her writings, through travel, and as an advisor.Prestonshows how Bethune s early involvement with Black women s organizations createdpersonal connections across Cuba, Haiti, India, and Africa and shaped herglobal vision. Bethune founded and led the National Council of Negro Women, whichstrengthened coalitions with women across the diaspora to address issues intheir local communities. Bethune served as director of the Division of NegroAffairs for the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration and later as associateconsultant for the United Nations alongside W.E.B. DuBois and Walter White, usingher influence to address diversity in the military, decolonization, suffrage,and imperialism. Mary McLeod Bethune thePan-Africanist provides a fuller, more accurate understanding of Bethune swork, illustrating the perspective and activism behind Bethune s much-quotedwords: For I am my mother s daughter, and the drums of Africa still beat in myheart. Publicationof this work made possible by a Sustaining the Humanities through the AmericanRescue Plan grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.