![]() But in those days, black women faced barriers, often systemic, to formal training and opportunities as nurses. The Civil War saw a surge in demand for nurses so perhaps this inspired young Mary. The idea of the colour of her skin being an issue rarely, if ever, crossed her mind. ![]() Like many little girls, Mary knew she wanted to be a nurse. There she learnt about humanity and morality, influencing her early interest in nursing. At the age of 10, Mary was admitted into the Phillips School, one of the first integrated schools in Boston. Mary’s parents provided her with the confidence she needed to face an often hostile world. From an early age, Mary learnt the importance of racial equality. They left North Carolina behind in pursuit of a life with little or, preferably, no racial discrimination. Although her parents were once enslaved, by the time Mary was born they had been freed. Mary Eliza Mahoney was born on May 7 th, 1845 in Dorchester, Massachusetts. But would she succeed and what kind of legacy would she leave behind? This is the story of the first black nurse who set about to change the world… The Dream to Be a Nurse and the Fight to Be Recognised as the First Mary was taking on a predominantly male and white profession. When she applied for her exams, no black woman had done what she was attempting and only a handful of black men had. But she knew such endeavours would be arduous. Her noble goal was to prove that a woman, a black woman no less, could graduate as a professional nurse. Eager to encourage greater equality for black Americans and women in general, Mary Eliza Mahoney took it upon herself to pursue a nursing career in the late 1840s when racism ran rampant across the nation.
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