The Art of the Possible: The Life and Legacy of Mary McLeod Bethune

Mary McLeod Bethune was born on a farm near Mayesville, South Carolina, in 1875, the fifteenth child of former slaves. She rose from those humble beginnings to become a world-renowned educator, civil rights and human rights leader, champion for women and young people, and advisor to five U.S. presidents.
The Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Statuary Project is a proud moment for the entire state of Florida and our nation. Learn more about Dr. Bethune and the statue that was erected in her honor in this compelling feature length documentary.
Additional Information: mmbstatue.org/

[@williamwilson8026]

Proud alumni of the great Bethune-Cookan class of 1983!

[@KayKayHoliday06]

Hail wildcats 🙌🏾. Class of 2010

[@biancagerman9808]

Yes!! Hail Wildcats! ❤

[@ernestined.lawrence9514]

Remember this is black history month, so calling black folk derogatory names is not respectful! Keep all comments respectful of black heritage and historical ancestral progress! Thanks, ✌🏽

[@Louiseifyouplease]

That is never okay, I don’t care WHAT month it is. Black history is something we should learn about and teach ALL year long.

[@byronevans1]

@@Louiseifyouplease exactly.

[@michaellawson2080]

For that matter sir, it's never good to use derogatory names and terms for ANY RACE whenever. But yeah it's black history month but we celebrate it for the whole year. Thank you

[@eveetienne6813]

Ernestine. That was my grandmother 's name. Wow!!!!!!! She passed away 41 years ago.

[@scorpionqueen1547]

@@eveetienne6813 EARNESTINE was my momma's name! She passed 5 years ago. Miss her terribly! She was our matriarch! Her's has an A In it tho!😊

[@mimisalazar3133]

Dr Bethune was a Force to be reckoned with! ❤❤❤ a True Pioneer! She was very much ahead of her time!

[@evacelestine4012]

What an inspiration! Thank you, Dr. Bethune, for your sacrifices for the greater good and for the tireless work for us all. #Bless #Rest

[@katiew7495]

Thank you God for this beautiful Blessed Experience to witness the life of Dr.Bethune Cookman Glory Hallelujah Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow🌹

[@beantianja]

One of the absolute best documentation of Dr. Mary. McCload Bethune to date. Great educational tool. Thank you

[@ginamitembe8935]

We give all the glory to our Creator GOD, for all those who came before us,all that they're achieved regardless of unimaginable hardships!!!😢🙏

[@ladywithclasscarpenter1143]

This Woman I greatly admire, her Christian values, her courage, such strong Woman! After I learned about her she was most admired in my opinion, the difficulties, obstacles she faced constantly she never let them stop her, didn’t attend Bethune Cookman, I received a Degree from another School of Christian Ministry.

[@sanctuary70]

I read the biography of THIS inspiring human being when i was in 3rd/4th grades. As I read the biography, I recall that I felt she was the ONLY teacher in the world! I had a close relationship with most of my teachers. I'd decided I wanted to be a teacher and started since the age of fourteen working as a tutor working with very young children, helping them how to read, as part of the TTT Program- Teachers Training Teachers. I audited college Education Courses. Mary McCloud Bethune, yes that was her name. I didn't need to be a "victim", NEVER saw myself as one as long as I had heroes.

[@marlinejenkins8576]

Greetings from Black-Dot, T-Dot , Toronto, Canada. 🦋 How I love you so much Ms.Bethune. You were one of my greatest inspiration in my achieving my Teacher's certification at the University of Toronto. One love, 🧜‍♂️🧜‍♀️ Marline Jenkins

[@royschmidt675]

Thank you for shedding light on and disseminating the truly transcendental aspects of Mary Mcloud Bethune trailblazing life. Peace & Love ❤️🌸🙏

[@evonza4858]

I remember doing her bio for a project in black history or Women's history 🥰👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾and l know a lot about her but I'm watching to learn more because she was a fascinating woman 🥰👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾thank you Mrs Mary Mcloude Bethune who started Cookman college 😉❤️🖤💚✊🏾❤️🖤💚

[@SuperDrefuss]

Absolutely amazing piece of work, about an amazing , honorable woman, and the magnificent art created to represent her. Very well done.

[@Only1Nikki]

Indescribably inspirational

[@innergearent1142]

It’s my first time hearing and learning about Queen mother Salute to Queen mother Dr Mary Mcleod Bethune.

[@gretchenmorris9241]

Excellent documentary on the life and times of Mary McLeod Bethune. Dr Bethune was my grandmother’s close friend. I have a couple of letters and a post cards from Mrs. Bethune to my grandmother. My grandmother also was selected by Mrs Bethune to attend the inaugural meeting of the United Nations in San Francisco (1945).

[@maxineking5073]

Who's watching in 2025 😢 as regards the USA

[@BROWNFOX-f6r]

Got me wondering how long it will remain standing, this day in time…….😢

[@gary2490]

GOD bless you 🙏 so much Mary McCloud 😮I love to walk past that extraordinary, absolutely amazing, statue, looking up at her as if she was 👍 still with us looking down on me.I have to walk past LINCOLN PARK to go home 🏠🏡 also the statue of Former president Abraham Lincoln and a freed slave of the Emancipation Proclamation, What a statue,Thank the Almighty God for this video,as 56:25 well as the entire video staff, Please send more videos of this magnitude.Thank U so much!! G-MAN of the District UPT 👍😎

[@elliee8683]

Thank you for telling her story.

[@brendamstewart5883]

This video tribute and words of tribute to Cousin Antoinette were absolutely loving, true, and touching! Her legacy lives on in all who knew and loved her. Our sincere condolences to you all. We love you. Your OhioFamily, Children/family of Mary Frances Forte Miller.

[@dgaoyamaat]

Thank you mother BethYun for all the work and sacrifices . You will forever be honored in my heart 💝

[@deloreswillis9224]

Great info❤

[@shawnlivers2757]

Powerful, thank you.

[@ss_sailaway]

Very well done. Thank you.

[@dgaoyamaat]

1:06:21 to 1:08:54 nearly too me out! 😢😢😢😢. I felt that. I k le so many mothers who out men, the church and social groups first over their children.

[@osyrusthevirus2434]

Intro: 00:00:00 **EARLY LIFE AND EARLY TEACHER CAREER** Childhood 00:01:49 School days 00:02:58 Early career 00:04:26 Family 00:05:48 Early career (continued) 00:06:44 **LATE TEACHER CAREER AND PERSONALITY** First school 00:07:19 Persona of Bethune (Early signs of "Black is Beautiful") 00:09:10 Development of her school 00:10:15 Religious influence 00:10:55 Interracial community meetings 00:11:41 Daytona Beach 00:13:28 **MODERN ERA: BEGINNING OF HER STATUE** A statue conceived 00:15:07 Statuary Fund Committee 00:17:27 **CAREER IN POLITICS AND POST WW1** African Americans in WW1 00:18:40 KKK interference 00:19:50 Black Women's Clubs (movement) 00:21:55 Involvement in the National Organization of Color Women (NOCW) 00:22:40 The Election of FDR's influence 00:23:58 Friendship with Eleanor Roosevelt 00:25:15 Creation of the Minority Affairs Division of the National Youth Association (MADNYA) 00:27:19 Continuity of segregation and her influence to end it 00:28:31 **MODERN ERA: CREATION OF HER STATUE** About the sculptor 00:29:30 Origins of marble and the sculptor's talent 00:31:15 Reason of using marble 00:32:57 Creation of the Bethune Statue 00:33:43 **MARY BETHUNE IN WW2** Bethune on WW2 00:37:57 Double V Campaign 00:38:49 Bethune helps Florida 00:39:27 Bethune on baseball 00:41:24 Bethune Beach 00:42:55 Bethune at the initial United Nations Conference 00:44:09 **MODERN ERA: MARY BETHUNE'S LEGACY AND STATUE** Bethune: My Last Will and Testament 00:45:22 Celebrating The Bethune Statue 00:47:43 A Bethune Statue journey to Daytona Beach 00:49:47 A Bethune Statue journey to Mayesville, SC 00:54:35 A Bethune Statue journey to Washington 00:56:25 Speeches about Bethune 00:58:38 **BETHUNE'S SPEECH** Commitment Takes Its Toll 01:05:40 Bethune's Address to a World Assembly for Moral Rearmament 01:06:14 **MODERN ERA: STATUE'S RETURN** A Bethune Statue journey home 01:09:13 **CONCLUSION** The Legacy of Mary McLeod Bethune 01:11:20 Bethune's "What Democracy Means To Me" speech 01:13:41 Credits 1:15:18 I mainly did this to aid me in my US History project, and hopes to help others. Sorry if I timestamped more of the history of Mary Mcleod Bethune more often than the building of the statue, as you can see where the bias might come from. And I also tried to simplify the timestamp names. If someone can make a more organized format, please do and bury this comment. Thank you for this documentary and Dr Mary Mcleod Bethune for this fortunate life I am living.

[@Pablosky1968]

❤ Thank you very much from Spain ❤😌☀️🌟

[@colinroach7815]

Great story. I am sure the question is always asked; why is the sculpture in white ?

[@9erfan916]

Someone that actually put the needs of the people first before anything else

[@shakirahill885]

My elementary school was named after her !

[@drJazz-jo8lf]

Class of 2011 ❤

[@SheIsHer1023]

I was so excited when I found out she is my cousin❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@chelseymichelle9286]

Is there anything like this now ? 😔

[@drJazz-jo8lf]

Bethune Cookman University is alive and well

[@cherylwin9364]

OUTSTANDING PHENOMENAL WOMAN ! ! !

[@carltonraulerson6797]

This my founder I Wii forever love hail Wildcats 🎉

[@TheQueenOfGreatness]

She’s my 3rd cousin ✨

[@cherylwin9364]

❤😊❤ OUSTING WOMAN

[@RonnyThomas-x9u]

She was fighting for black people as a hold the black man, black woman, and child not just for women

[@latoshabatiste6423]

❤

[@RebaCaldwell-gr9le]

What do you expect me to say other then Jesus Christ was whipped and put upon a cross and crucified he was a Black man the Bible tells our story our life I believe that he is coming just wait and be ready when he comes

[@ShikharRawat-ft6yd]

Lol

[@brinagal1]

There is also an elementary school named after her in albany.

[@brinagal1]

Comment was meant for the Alice Coachman Documentary.

[@상보-z7q]

Walker Jennifer Williams Richard Walker Jason

[@shamellgalloway6871]

O

[@jermaineharris5971]

🍊🍪🕌

[@royschmidt675]

Correction- ‘McLeod’

[@talkstocomets]

There look like some woeful men in this video.

[@talkstocomets]

Miriam (Mary) the first? At 34:25maa means hissssssss ma grandpa good

[@talkstocomets]

A 1 tubesteak the great and thats tubesteak ta grader

[@senghbeh]

Mary McCloud Bethune did not even exist.

[@colinroach7815]

Interesting, can you elaborate please ? Thanks.

[@lizmalone1499]

Oh tell me more?

[@dterrycarter]

Name and address and we can meet up 🤡

[@colinroach7815]

@@dterrycarter, thanks for the response. I am on the Island of Barbados in the West Indies.......i am interested in your comment, after seeing images of this lady in black and white, video footage, but you say she never existed.....well, this is same way i feel about Jesus, i don't believe he existed because there is nothing tangible at all to evidence his existence, or even the existence of Moses, Solomon or the Israelites for that matter. So i am interested in your comment.

[@lifewithmiracleandmyalifew8109]

@@colinroach7815 super ant a white boy tryna start shit