Mary Church Terrell, one of the 22 founders of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Mary Church Terrell. An activist all her life I am finding her life and work so inspiring. Terrell was one of the first African American women to earn a college degree and a founding member of the NAACP. She was also the first president of the National Association of Colored Women. Her phrase “Lifting as we climb” became the national motto for the NACW. “A white woman has only one handicap to overcome – that of sex. I have two – both sex and race… Colored men have only one – that of race. Colored women are the only group in this country who have two heavy handicaps to overcome, that of race as well as that of sex.” Mary Church Terrell