ANNA J. COOPER (1858-1964) was an author, educator and one of the most important black scholars in history.
Cooper was born in Raleigh, North Carolina, to Hannah Stanley Haywood, an enslaved woman. It is believed that her owner, George Washington Haywood, fathered Cooper and her siblings.
She attended the St. Augustine’s Normal School and Collegiate Institute starting at the age of 10 where she became interested in math and science. Upon completing her studies, she remained as an instructor. In 1877, she married George Cooper, a candidate for the ministry at St. Augustine.
After his death only two years later, Anna Cooper, wishing to pursue a teaching career, applied to enter Oberlin College. As a widow, Cooper was free to pursue greater educational opportunities and with the help of a full scholarship from the college, she earned her bachelor of arts degree in 1884 while electing to take the “Gentlemen’s Course” rather than the program designed for women. After a brief hiatus teaching at Wilberforce University and St. Augustine, she returned to Oberlin to earn a master’s degree in mathematics in 1887.
Her first book, A Voice from the South: By a Woman from the South, published in 1892, is often considered as one of the first articulations of Black Feminism. She entered the doctoral program at Columbia University in 1914 while still teaching full-time, then transferred her credits to the University of Paris (Sorbonne), earning her Ph.D. in 1925 with a thesis (written in French) on The Attitude of France on the Question of Slavery Between 1789 and 1848. She was 67 at the time she was awarded the degree, becoming only the fourth black woman to earn a Ph.D. degree in any field.
Cooper became the second president of Frelinghuysen University, a nontraditional group of schools to be a beacon of hope for “colored working people”, in 1930. She continued to be a strong advocate for women’s education and for racial and gender equality. On February 27, 1964, Cooper died in Washington, D.C., at the age of 105. Her memorial was held in chapel on the campus of Saint Augustine’s College, where her academic career began, and she was buried alongside her husband at the City Cemetery in Raleigh.
Page 26 & 27 of every new United States passport contains the following quote:
“The cause of freedom is not the cause of a race or a sect, a party or a class – it is the cause of humankind, the very birthright of humanity.”
- Anna Julia Cooper
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Concrete Loop features ‘CL History Spotlights’ each week honoring individuals who have played pivotal roles in history. submissions are welcome.
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Thanks Concrete Loop, I really enjoy the History Spotlights but can we do something about the ad pop-ups.. they are a little annoying.. Thanks
I would have never known. Thanks Mr. Dakar
*going to get my Passport now*
Wow she was incredibly smart, and lived to be 105!
Thanks CL
Posts like these make me so proud of the work being done on this site. Keep up the great work!
That’s love!
*Another GREAT post CL! I love the history spotlights! Does anyone else find it a
*little “funny” that on the Black history post there are very little comments, but as
*soon as there is a post about Beyonce or Ri Ri, there’s 100′s? We should really
*embrace our history! Bc if it wasnt for these people, there would be no Beyonce!
*Think about it people!!!!
I have never heard of her until now, thanks CL…
I think this is a great part of the site.
god blessed her with so many years to live coz of de work she was doing
I’ve read that quote in my passport along with some of her other quotes, and just never had a face to match the name (or the backstory). I think I’m gonna check out her book(s). Thanks J. Dakar & CL for the post.
I’ve wondered about that myself # 6 Candikane, anytime theres a post about important political issues, or these spotlights theres like 50 responses meanwhile others get hundreds.
Maybe CL should insert one of these Spotlights inside a B or Rihanna post, or give it a B or Rihanna headline and see if we get anymore responses. Just a thought.
Let it Marinate
WOW! What an inspiration! Thanks CL–ya’ll keep reppin!
One of the guys I work with went to Oberlin and he talks about her all the time… Thanks for posting…
Wow such an awesome post! Thank you for it J. Dakar! I just got my passport not too long ago, and I never noticed! I’m going to go check it out now…that is an amazing quote! These are the people we need to be learning about in American History! Unsung heroes!
Just when you thought all ‘celebrity’ gossip sites are all the same, CL sets itself apart
from all the rest. It makes sense that if we read gossip, we should have something to stimulate our minds. Thanks for the history lesson – most of our children only know about Marcus Garvey, Madame CJ Walker and Harriet Tubman. It warms my heart to see a ‘new’ face I didn’t know much about. Keep up the great work.
I agree…positive posts NEVER get as many comments: lets just hope people begin to read them and LEARN something…I love this story: it’s very inspirational.
thank you cl. always appreciate these!
Thank you for the education! I look forward to these type of posts. Keep up the good work; I enjoy your site!
amazing… i would have never known this.
*Thank you #10 Inspired By Change AKA Let It Marinate! I thought I was the only 1
*that noticed that…
That was some interesting news. I never knew about her.
I love these posts.
Makes me realize that I need to step up my college schoolwork game.
If she could do it back in the 1800s, seriously, what’s our excuse?
i……….I really enjoyed this post and it’s only bc of postings like this that i was able
………..to answer a trivia question about Loving vs. Virginia. Good look.
………..I will be taking a look at my passport now.
@ #6
I agree, but just b/c people don’t comment doesn’t mean they don’t read it. I’ve read all the CL spotlights but only replied to this one.
Somethings don’t necessarily need anyone’s opinion, like a Bey post, maybe that’s why people don’t comment as much.
But just like in everyday life, u never know who you’re influencing b/c they don’t always tell you.
Was she burried next to the husband that passed about 80 years prior? If so that’s crazy…but good. My cousin goes to Wilberforce!
Thank you, as usual, for balancing out the gossip with history. I really appreciate these posts. They are always informative!
That quote is very powerful and true indeed. Great post!
Thanks Concretloop
I plan on joining the military so that they can help me become a elementary school teacher. i have a lot to go on being the fact that im a young black male that lives in the south of all places were being a young black male would get nowher unless you push yourself. I plan on becoming a teacher so that i will play an active role in young kids lives. I love working with young children. i do belive that this is my calling from god. I look up to only one black man right now(besides obama and Martin) an that would be Bill Cosby. For he is a strong black man that is educated and has done something with his life.
Something you all might not think about much is there are not that many black male teachers around today, for being a teacher is a female career more than a male(black at that).
Cant wait till i reach my dreams!! John H.
Thank you CL for continuing to enlighten us with such rich stories of our ancestors. By taking the time to research and then to post such history is a testament to your journalistic integrity. I take this information and pass it along to my children. I make it a point to teach them about people that are not introduced to them in school. And to #6 and # 10, I’ve noticed the same thing.
# 23 ELECTRA
You made a valid point, I haven’t thought about that way before, myself.
*it
I haven’t thought about *it* that way before…lol
Great post! I love that she’s from North Carolina
)
Wonderful history lesson, CL! Great to learn about another inspiring, intelligent black woman. I’m an alum of Central State University (across the street from Wilberforce U.) and live in North Carolina and attended a summer program at Oberlin!
Wow she wrote her thesis in French! She’s a wonderful read indeed. Thanks J!
Interesting post… Now I have to look at my pasport…Thanks J. Dakar.. Keep feeding us more!!!
that’s that shit! very inspirational.
Awesome …Truly Awesome
I’m really feeling this post. I’m currently taking a Women in History course; she’s before the time period my course covers but if she wasn’t I would def. mention her!
we just read one of her works in college and had a test on it 2 weeks on it…no offense but she was BORING..I started reading but had 2 stop and got an online summary
i’ve read some of her work. as a young black woman, to me she is very inspirational.
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