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IT& #39;S #JUNETEENTH2020 
https://abs.twimg.com/hashflags... draggable="false" alt=""> so let me introduce y& #39;all to America& #39;s first Black economist & my INSPIRATION:
Dr. Sadie T. M. Alexander, who earned her PhD in Economics in 1921 @Penn-- civil rights pioneer, first Natl president @dstinc1913, economist, lawyer, and activist.
A thread/
Dr. Sadie T. M. Alexander, who earned her PhD in Economics in 1921 @Penn-- civil rights pioneer, first Natl president @dstinc1913, economist, lawyer, and activist.
A thread/
so let me introduce y& #39;all to America& #39;s first Black economist & my INSPIRATION: Dr. Sadie T. M. Alexander, who earned her PhD in Economics in 1921 @Penn-- civil rights pioneer, first Natl president @dstinc1913, economist, lawyer, and activist. A thread/" title="IT& #39;S #JUNETEENTH2020 https://abs.twimg.com/hashflags... draggable="false" alt=""> so let me introduce y& #39;all to America& #39;s first Black economist & my INSPIRATION: Dr. Sadie T. M. Alexander, who earned her PhD in Economics in 1921 @Penn-- civil rights pioneer, first Natl president @dstinc1913, economist, lawyer, and activist. A thread/" class="img-responsive" style="max-width:100%;"/>
Dr. Alexander was born into a family of firsts- her relatives made history in art, medicine, education, etc.
Black excellence was in her blood.
And she was a product of her environment despite #Juneteenthhttps://abs.twimg.com/hashflags... draggable="false" alt=""> happening just 30 years prior.
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Black excellence was in her blood.
And she was a product of her environment despite #Juneteenth
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happening just 30 years prior. 2/6" title="Dr. Alexander was born into a family of firsts- her relatives made history in art, medicine, education, etc. Black excellence was in her blood. And she was a product of her environment despite #Juneteenth https://abs.twimg.com/hashflags... draggable="false" alt=""> happening just 30 years prior. 2/6" class="img-responsive" style="max-width:100%;"/>
At @Penn, she earned her Bachelors & Masters degrees in Education in 3 years. She made history when she earned her PhD in Economics, becoming the FIRST Black recipient of the degree.
She desired to use economics to expand civil rights for African-Americans and minorities.
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She desired to use economics to expand civil rights for African-Americans and minorities.
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But when Alexander received her PhD, economists blackballed her... because racism and sexism.
She couldn& #39;t find a job ANYWHERE y& #39;all which eventually led her to go back to school for law.
In 1927, she became @Penn first Black woman law school graduate. #SlightWork
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She couldn& #39;t find a job ANYWHERE y& #39;all which eventually led her to go back to school for law.
In 1927, she became @Penn first Black woman law school graduate. #SlightWork
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For the rest of her life, Alexander was a champion for civil rights:
- She marched in Selma, AL
- She supported Black liberation
- She desegregated the military
- She co-organized @nationalbar
and *SO* much more.
She lived & breathed #BlackLivesMatterhttps://abs.twimg.com/hashflags... draggable="false" alt="">. Truly iconic.
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- She marched in Selma, AL
- She supported Black liberation
- She desegregated the military
- She co-organized @nationalbar
and *SO* much more.
She lived & breathed #BlackLivesMatter
5/6
. Truly iconic.5/6" title="For the rest of her life, Alexander was a champion for civil rights: - She marched in Selma, AL - She supported Black liberation - She desegregated the military - She co-organized @nationalbarand *SO* much more. She lived & breathed #BlackLivesMatter https://abs.twimg.com/hashflags... draggable="false" alt="">. Truly iconic.5/6" class="img-responsive" style="max-width:100%;"/>
Dr. Alexander& #39;s legacy in economics lives on through the work of @Nina_EBanks, who has unearthed the economics of Dr. Alexander via her speeches, and @SadieCollective, which honors her by fostering community for BW in economics and related fields.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qf7JTYdYtc
6/6">https://www.youtube.com/watch...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qf7JTYdYtc
6/6">https://www.youtube.com/watch...
On a personal note, it is my deepest desire to be half of the woman, mother, economist, activist, and leader that Dr. Alexander was. I end with her words:
"I knew well that the only way I could get that door open was to knock it down; because I knocked all of them down."
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"I knew well that the only way I could get that door open was to knock it down; because I knocked all of them down."
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This thread is popping off so let me include some required listening for #JUNETEENTH2020 https://abs.twimg.com/hashflags... draggable="false" alt=""> #JuneteenthDay: @theindicator featured ya girl and @Nina_EBanks in an episode dedicated to Dr. Alexander.
It is one of their most popular episodes to date.
https://twitter.com/theindicator/status/1099665553604706304?s=20
8/6">https://twitter.com/theindica...
It is one of their most popular episodes to date.
https://twitter.com/theindicator/status/1099665553604706304?s=20
8/6">https://twitter.com/theindica...
If you are also interested in learning more about Dr. Alexander& #39;s upbringing and life within the economics context, @SadieCollective has compiled resources, @Nina_EBanks @drjlastword research, and her daughter& #39;s speech that speaks to her life!
https://www.sadiecollective.org/dr-sadie-t-m-alexander
9/6">https://www.sadiecollective.org/dr-sadie-...
https://www.sadiecollective.org/dr-sadie-t-m-alexander
9/6">https://www.sadiecollective.org/dr-sadie-...
