Well, she’s a she-ro, is who she is. Read on…
Clara Belle Drisdale Williams (1885-1993), was the first African-American man or woman to graduate from New Mexico State University ~ among many other accomplishments…
After graduating at the top of her class in 1905 from the Prairie View Normal and Independent College in Texas, Williams went on to study at the University of Chicago, where she met her future husband, Jasper Williams. They married in 1917.
In New Mexico, where she resumed her studies after having three sons (all of whom went on to pursue degrees in medicine) Willams was denied entry into the classroom by several of her (need I say racist, oh why not?!) instructors, forcing her to take notes from the hallway. Additionally, she was prohibited from accompanying her class to receive her diploma again because racism, to which we can add a full dollop of misogynoir.
Despite these and other barriers to her success, Williams became a respected teacher of black students over many years in both segregated and desecrated schools. Early in her long career, Williams’ students included the parents of those she taught by day, many of whom were former slaves, serving these individuals with night instruction.
In 1961, New Mexico State University named a street on its campus after Williams; in 2005 the building of the English department was renamed Clara Belle Williams Hall. In 1980 Williams was awarded an honorary doctorate of laws degree by NMSU, which also apologized for the treatment she was subjected to as a student. She died at 107 years old.