FIRST BLACK WOMAN INVITED TO PRESIDENTIAL INAUGERATION OF A DEMOCRAT

In 1950 Dr. Arenia C. Mallory was invited to the inauguration of Harry S. Truman making her the first black woman with this distinction.

Dr. Mallory passed away in 1977 leaving a legacy to be proud of.

Born in December 1904, Mallory grew up in Illinois and as a youth, trained to be a concert pianist. Her father was Frank Mallory; half of the two man entertainment duo The Mallory Brothers whose act was wildly popular during the vaudeville era. The brother’s wives joined the act at the turn of the century; circa 1901. Her brother, Edward, became a band leader.

After high school she attended Simmons College of Kentucky (1927) and went on to earn a master’s degree in education from Jackson State University of Mississippi in 1936.

Incorporating her love for music, Mallory formed the Jubilee Harmonizers in the 30s. They toured the United States and played for President and Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt. Money raised by the performing group was donated to the Saints Industrial and Literary School and Mallory donated money earned from her own speaking engagements to build up the school’s library. The Jubilee Harmonizers was made up of students from the Saints Industrial and Literary School.

Mallory was President of the Saints Industrial and Literary School from 1926 until her death in 1977. A school for blacks that promoted a quality education and Christian principles. The school, founded in 1918, educated children K-12 and was attended by children from every state as well as some from outside the country.

During Mallory’s tenure the school was part of a landmark federal case in 1969, Coffee v. State Educational Finance Commission, concerning state support of segregated private schools in Mississippi. The case also established the way the IRS would set the standard by which to determine the tax-exempt status of private schools based on their segregation policies.

This case challenged the practice of only funding private schools with all white students. Finally, in 1971, the IRS announced it could “no longer legally justify allowing tax-exempt status to private schools which practice racial discrimination” after the Supreme Court had set down a ruling stating that “a private school which practiced racial discrimination could not be eligible for a tax exemption”.

Mallory was a fundraising powerhouse and worked for the poor in her community so that they might have health and welfare services. She also consistently raised money so that the students at the school had money for books and clothing.

In 1946 the National Council of Negro Women conducted a national poll and Mallory was named one of twelve outstanding women in the country.

She was an advocate for equality and women’s rights joining with Mary McLeod Bethune to expand the National Council of Negro Women and served as its Vice President from 1953 to 1957.

Mallory attended the International Conference of Women in Helsinki, Finland in 1954. She often traveled for speaking engagements that were for the advocacy of education for black youth in particular. Mallory rallied for cancer research, travelled to Phoenix, Arizona in 1955 and shared the stage with Mother Jones to speak at the 30th Church of God In Christ Convocation.

Mallory had the honor of being chosen the United States delegate marking the tenth anniversary of the United Nations held in San Francisco, California in 1955.

In 1960 she was one of the distinguished guest at the inaugural celebration for the president of Liberia, West Coast, Africa and while there toured the school systems. In 1960 the International Council of Women elected Mallory as Vice-Convener of the Education Committee. To be elected for this position a person had to be nominated by at least three countries. Mallory was nominated by the United States, Canada, Austria and Italy. This made her the only person of color on the committee.

President John F. Kennedy named Mallory as advisor to the U.S. Department of Labor in 1963. That same year Mallory started the very first Head Start program in Mississippi.

The governor of Mississippi declared April 19 Dr. Arenia Conelia Mallory Day in 1974! And the alumni of her school founded the Dr. Arenia Conelia Mallory Foundation to continue work in her name after her death in 1977.

Further reading with lots of great pictures: http://emanuelministries.org/dr-a-mallory.html

This article is just one of my “First Woman” series I am presenting here on the vocal.media site. You can check out my other articles on my main page: https://vocal.media/authors/paula-c-henderson