Black Women in America
We are taking advantage of Black History Month to kick off our new series on “Black Women in America”. It is time to recognize that black women have always had strong gifts and abilities. Tragically they have been denied the same opportunities as white men or women. We miss this fact because their stories have not been told. By emphasizing their lives and accomplishments, I hope to help erase the misconception that black women are not as capable as white men or women.
There are so many hundreds (thousands!) of incredible black women to choose from. Since one of the unfair biases against black women is the perception that they are not intelligent, I decided to begin my series with black women who have earned a Ph.D. I pray that many, many more black women will be given the chance to pursue their dreams of education and careers. Though there has been incremental progress for black people, many struggles for equal opportunities still exist.
The first week in Black History Month we honored a very courageous woman, Eva Beatrice Dykes for being the first black woman in America to complete the requirements for a PhD. Her degree was in English Philology, and she received her degree at her commencement on June 22, 1921. This week we will look at the story of the first woman to be awarded a PhD at commencement. Georgiana Rose Simpson received a PhD in German Philology on June 14, 1921 – just over 100 years ago.
Georgiana Rose Simpson (1865(6?)-1944)
Last year, in 2021, the students at the University of Chicago honored the 100th anniversary of the granting of a PhD to the first black woman in America. Georgiana Rose Simpson earned her PhD in German Philology. Two other black women received PhD’s in June 1921 – Eva B. Dykes (English Philology) was the first black woman in America to complete the requirements for the degree, but her commencement was not until June 22.[1]Sadie T. M. Alexander received her degree in Economics one day after Georgiana on June 15.[2]
All three of these women, Eva, Georgiana, and Sadie underwent discrimination and hardship yet persevered with courage, and confidence until they earned their degrees. None of the three women would be hired to do the job for which they qualified due to racial and gender discrimination. Georgiana and Eva would turn to teaching since women were allowed to teach school children in those days. Next week we will see that Sadie Alexander went back to a university to get her law degree and began to actively pursue changes in the law as a way of making things better for black people.
Georgiana was born in Washington, D.C., on March 31, 1866 (or 1865 according to some sources). She attended the Miner Normal School, where many black elementary school teachers were trained, and graduated in 1885. She had been working with German immigrant children and desired to learn more about their language. She went to Germany in 1896 and studied German language and literature.
In 1901 Georgiana took a job teaching German at Dunbar High School in Washington D. C., a prestigious school for black children. She spent her summers studying at Harvard, Clark University, and the University of Chicago where she enrolled full time in 1907 at the age of 41. Georgiana was not the first black student on campus but her decision to live in a dorm sparked a controversy that ultimately led to changes in the university’s housing policies.
Georgiana enrolled at the University of Chicago to earn her bachelor’s degree while furthering her interests in the German language and literature. She also took French, Latin, Greek, and studied mathematics. She decided to live in Green Hall, but while there she faced racism and discrimination. Shortly after she arrived five white women approached Sophonisba Breckinridge, who was a renowned social reformer, and then-secretary to Marion Talbot who held the position of “dean of women”. The five white women wanted her to force Georgiana out or else they would leave.
Sophonisba Breckinridge decided that Georgiana should stay. The white women moved out. In response, the president of the university, Harry Pratt Judson forced Georgiana to find housing off campus. This incident sparked an outcry and several advocacy groups condemned Judson’s decision. He did not change his mind. It would be several more years until Judson’s successor, Ernest DeWitt Burton created the official policy allowing black students to live on campus.
In the meantime, Georgian was allowed to commute and complete her studies. She took mostly summer courses and some correspondence courses so that she could avoid encounters with white students. Her belief in herself and her goal gave her the strength to carry on until she received her degree. And let’s face it, she was not alone. Most black students, especially females had an uphill battle as college students. She had little choice, but she bravely carried on because she had a strong sense of purpose.
Georgiana earned her bachelor’s degree and then beginning in 1915 she continued to do post-graduate work. From 1919-1921 she pursued her master’s degree and doctoral degree, both in German Philology. The master’s thesis she wrote was entitled “The Phonology of Merigarto,” a study of an Early Middle High German poem. Her doctoral dissertation which focused on German Romanticism, was entitled “Herder’s Conception of Das Volk” and was written under the supervision of Martin Schutze.
After receiving her PhD, a photograph of her in her doctoral robes was featured in the September 1921 issue of The Crisis, a publication of the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People).
Georgiana returned to her teaching job at the high school in Washington, D.C. But word of her accomplishment and the respect that came with it led Howard University to offer her an associate professorship of German in 1931. She became a full-time professor and taught there until 1939. Georgiana never married. She died on January 27, 1944. During her life she had met abolitionist Frederick Douglass and his second wife, whom Georgiana lived with after Douglass died in 1895. She corresponded with many leading black intellectuals of her day including W. E. B. Du Bois.
There really weren’t any courses in “African American Studies”[1] in those days, but Georgiana used her skills in philology to increase an understanding of African American history and literature. In 1924 she published a critical edition and translation from French of a biography of Toussaint L’Ouverture, the leader of the Haitian slave rebellion and father of free Haiti.
Thanks in part to her courageous pioneering work, by 1943 at least 45 black students had earned doctorates from the University of Chicago, probably more than any school in the nation at that time. Today there is a “’shared community of Black women scholars at UChicago, who – though they may face discrimination or hardship – continue to strive, push through, be courageous and confident, excel, and ultimately earn their degrees,’ said Anderson, the organization’s president.”[2] They view Georgiana as an exceptional example and inspiration for black students.
Opportunities have increased for black women since Georgiana was a student, but there is still a long way to go. Black women professors are still underrepresented in tenure-track positions at universities. The rest of the world is missing out on the many ways they could have profited from the talents of black women who were not allowed to use those gifts to help others. I pray for an end to prejudice and discrimination. I hope you do too. Stay tuned for many more stories of God’s black daughters.
[1] I am using the term that was historically prevalent for black people at that time. I don’t want to change past history, just future history!
[2] From “100 years ago, Georgiana Simpson made history as he first Black woman to graduate with a Ph.D.”, at: https://news.uchicago.edu/story/100-years-ago-georgiana-simpson-made-history-first-black-woman-graduate-phd
[1] See last week’s post, February 1, 2022. “Black Women in America – Black History Month”.
[2] Look for her story next week!
One Response
Thank you for information