On this day in 1864, Rebecca Lee Crumpler became the first Black woman to become a doctor of medicine in the United States.
Crumpler was born in 1831 in Delaware. She spent her early years in Pennsylvania and in 1852, Crumpler moved to Charlestown, Massachusetts, where she worked as a nurse for eight years. In 1860, Crumpler was accepted into the New England Female Medical College, which was the only medical school in the country that accepted women and African Americans.
She graduated on February 24, 1864, and became the first Black woman to earn a medical degree. Despite facing discrimination and prejudice throughout her career, Crumpler continued to work as a physician and provide medical care to those in need.
She passed away in 1895, but her legacy as a trailblazer and pioneer in the field of medicine continues to inspire future generations of medical professionals.
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