Women in Research—Black History Month Edition
Celebrating Women in Research
The Black History Month Edition
Dr. Alexander used her education in research and economics to help create changes within the Black community.
Highlighting the life of Dr. Sadie T.M. Alexander
In celebration of Black History Month, LifeSpring is proud to highlight the remarkable life and enduring legacy of Dr. Sadie T.M. Alexander. A trailblazing Black woman, Dr. Alexander devoted her life to improving the economic standing of the Black community. We celebrate Dr. Alexander for her resilience in utilizing research and advocacy to expose and dismantle oppressive structures that threatened the livelihood of Black communities.
Here is a quick overview of her impactful life:
She was the first Black woman to earn a PhD in economics
Dr. Alexander is believed to be the first Black woman to earn a PhD in economics; however, racial and gender discrimination left her unable to secure a position within academia. Dr. Alexander went back to school for law and became the first Black woman to practice in the state of Pennsylvania.
She used her economic platform to further her activism
Dr. Alexander wed her passions for economics and civil rights, utilizing her platform to produce some of the earliest studies on the experiences of African Americans in the labor market.
She explored Black women's impact in the industrial economy
Through her research, Dr. Alexander shed light on the connections between the labor market and Black women’s home production. She explored how Black women’s participation in the industrial economy increased both their economic independence and political influence.
This Black history month, LifeSpring reaffirms the importance of leveraging community and institutional knowledge to spur change in neighborhoods that have struggled under the weight of poor policy and financial neglect.
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