Thin Yadanr, tmy24@uakron.edu
The history of how black women were treated in the medical field has always and still is disgraceful and prejudiced but when minorities come together to take a risk for the betterment of society, we are left to honor them and hold their legacy through history. When Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler successfully earned her medical degree, she became the first and only African American female to become a doctor in the 1860s. As the civil war was coming to an end, Crumpler could see that millions of African American were in need of medical care that was not provided to them easily due to the lack of resources, connections and money. The limitations and cost to properly treat black people was a grievance and injustice that Crumpler would do anything to help. At first, Crumpler assisted in bureaus, charities and missionaries to help formerly enslaved men, women and children. Despite the constant sexism, racism and disadvantages, Dr. Crumpler continued to hold her head up and continue working in harsh conditions. By the end of the 1860s, Crumpler would move to Boston and a neighborhood that consisted of many African Americans, and continue her medical practices. Although resources such as prescriptions and admissions to actual hospitals, she still treated patients with respect and cared for those who could not pay. Eventually in the 1880s, Dr. Crumpler would stop her practices but later published a book on educating African American mothers with pregnancy, child birthing and the health of children. Mr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler challenged the world with her ability to resist, sacrifice and fight with her dedication to serve her community and people around her.
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