Eleanor Roosevelt and Mary McLeod Bethune were two of the greatest champions of equal rights for Black Americans in the 20th century. They first met at a dinner for the National Council for Women in 1927, hosted by Eleanor’s mother-in-law Sara Delano Roosevelt. Bethune was the only Black woman there and sensing her discomfort Sara took her by the arm and seated her next to Eleanor. It was the start of a lifelong friendship and political alliance. Born to parents who had been enslaved, Bethune rose to become the highest-ranking Black member in the Roosevelt Administration. Ebony magazine crowned her the “First Lady of Negro America.” She was the leader of Roosevelt’s Black Cabinet and her friendship with Eleanor gave her direct access to the president.

Eleanor and Mary teamed up for many important initiatives during a period when white women of her class did not associate with Black women, except as domestic workers. They fought to have more Black men and women hired by the federal government, fought for better pay, and fought to have New Deal benefits be distributed to the Black community in a fair way. Sometimes they succeeded, and even when they failed, they helped transform public opinion about the role of the Black Community in American society.

This event is part of the Fireside Chats, a program series organized by Paul M. Sparrow, and is co-presented by Chanta Wilkinson and Paul M. Sparrow.

Wilkinson is the founder of Chanta Wilkinson Consulting, providing diversity, equity, and inclusion consulting and assistance to organizations implementing diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies and best practices. She is a graduate of Rutgers University Law School and previously served as a Deputy Attorney General and an EEO/Affirmative Action Coordinator for the New Jersey Office of Attorney General.

Sparrow is a writer, historical consultant, and the former Director of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum. Before moving to the FDR Library, he was the Deputy Director and Senior Vice President at the Newseum in Washington, DC. He is the author of the book, Awakening the Spirit of America: FDR's War of Words With Charles Lindbergh—and the Battle to Save Democracy.

President Franklin Roosevelt broadcast his first Fireside Chat on March 12th, 1933, just eight days after his inauguration. During his 12 years in office he delivered dozens of Fireside Chats, guiding America through the Great Depression, and guiding a global audience through the horrors of World War Two. FDR’s Fireside Chats were a new form of political communication, using radio to connect with Americans in an intimate setting – right in their living rooms. His compelling and persuasive broadcasts encouraged Americans to believe in democracy and its future. Paul Sparrow hosts this series of programs that build on the foundation laid by FDR’s Fireside Chats, and find their relevance to our world today.

NOTE: this session is available to attend in-person or through Zoom. You MUST REGISTER and indicate which you prefer. Each in-person attendee must register separately.

If you need assistance with registration or getting your Zoom invitation, please email us.

Basic written instructions for using Zoom may be found here and a brief video tutorial may be found here. Closed captioning is available for all our sessions. Information on enabling closed captioning in Zoom may be found here.