Eartha M. M. White

Eartha M. M. White
Eartha M.M. White and her mother Clara White
Born	November 8, 1876 Jacksonville, Florida
Died	January 18, 1974(1974-01-18) (aged 97) Jacksonville, Florida
Occupation	Teacher, Operatic soprano, political activist
Known for	Humanitarian works

Eartha Mary Magdalene White (November 8, 1876 - January 18, 1974) was an American humanitarian, philanthropist, and businesswoman.

Born in Jacksonville, Florida, White was the 13th child of a former slave. She was adopted by Clara English White at a very young age and the two had an extremely loving relationship. It was from her mother's example that White sought to improve the condition of the poor and helpless people in Jacksonville.

In her youth, White attended schools in Florida and New York. In 1893, upon graduation from the Stanton School in Jacksonville, she moved to New York City for a brief period in order to avoid a yellow fever quarantine. After high school she attended the Madam Hall Beauty School and the National Conservatory of Music. She also toured in John W. Isham's Oriental America, a show featuring African-American's singing arias and popular operatic scenes, where she sang as a lyric soprano. The show traveled throughout the United States and Europe and launched many careers. She returned to Florida in 1896, where she graduated from the Florida Baptist Academy.

After graduation, White fought for construction of the first public school for African-Americans in the community of Bayard. In 1899, Bartolo Genovar was persuaded by Ms. White to donate land and lumber for a new school when she was assigned to teach there. Thus began a sixteen-year teaching career in Bayard and later at her alma mater, the Stanton School. She also became involved in political activities by participating in the Republican Party as well as beginning the Colored Citizens Protective League in Jacksonville. In 1941, she joined with A. Philip Randolph to protest job discrimination. White was engaged to marry at age 20, but her fiance, who worked for a railroad in Jacksonville, died from tuberculosis in 1896.

She remained single, lived frugally, and spent all her money on a wide range of philanthropic activities. When asked about her social life, Eartha responded, "I never married. I was too busy - What man would put up with me running around the way I do?" In addition to the regular people that Eartha knew, she had several notable friends, including Charles Edward Bennett, Booker T. Washington, Mary McLeod Bethune, James Weldon Johnson and first lady Eleanor Roosevelt.