Anna J. Cooper

Anna Julia Haywood Cooper (1858–1964) was born in Raleigh, North Carolina, and spent her early life as an enslaved person in the home of George Washington Haywood. She is recognized as the foremother of Black women’s intellectual history, feminism, and activism.

At age nine, she began a formal education intended to train Black people to become educators of former slaves. She achieved remarkable academic success, earning:

• An M.A. from Oberlin College
• A Ph.D. in history from the University of Paris-Sorbonne

A visionary scholar, author, and educator, Cooper is often referred to as the Mother of Black Feminism for her groundbreaking work in social theory and her tireless advocacy for the education of Black women.