Ruth Batson
Encyclopedia
Ruth M. Batson was an American
civil rights
and education activist.
Batson's career began with the NAACP Boston Branch. While representing the NAACP in local, regional and national capacities, her most renowned accomplishment occurred in the early 1960s when she led the challenge to the Boston Public School system
for educational equality for African American
students in Boston.
She had charged school administrators and the School Committee with ignoring "a basic American concept that equal opportunity should be available to all people regardless of race, color, or creed."
Batson attended Boston University
(Master of Education degree) and Northeastern University. She retired as a tenured professor of psychiatry
at Boston University School of Medicine
Division of Psychiatry, after more than ten years.
She was a member of the board of visitors of Boston University’s School of Medicine; trustees, Boston City Hospital
; member, Corporation of the Massachusetts General Hospital
and former member of its board of trustees; and board member of Roxbury Community College
Foundation.
She was the author of The Black Educational Movement in Boston: A Sequence of Historical Events (1638-1975), a comprehensive chronology documenting the heroic efforts and contributions of African American parents to educational history in Boston. Northeastern University published the manuscript of nearly 900 pages in October, 2001.
She was the first black woman on the Democratic National Committee
and the first woman elected president of NAACP’s New England Regional Conference, a role in which she served from 1957 to 1960.
After serving as chairwoman of the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination
from 1963 to 1966, she helped launched the METCO (Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity
) voluntary desegregation
program. As associate director then director, she helped guide METCO’s growth from transporting 225 black urban youngsters to sever suburbs to 1,125 children to 28 communities. She stepped down in 1969.
She was the founder in 1969 of the Ruth M. Batson Educational Foundation which provided grants to African American college students for tuition and emergency needs. The Batson Foundation also awards grants to educational institutions and community organizations whose program objectives reflect the philosophy of the Batson Foundation. In its 34 years of giving, the Batson Foundation has awarded over US$1,200,000 in grants.
More recently Batson had directed the revitalized Museum of African American History on Beacon Hill, stepping down in 1990.
She leaves three grandsons and three daughters, Cassandra Way of Boston, Dorothy Owusu of Alexandria, Virginia
, and acting coach Susan Batson
of New York City
.
Her financial support for medical students at Boston University School of Medicine
, the school, under the leadership of Dr. Aram Chobanian
, established the Ruth Batson Scholarship in 1997. Since that time the school has awarded more than US$500,000 in scholarships to 40 Boston University
Minority Medical Students, including four MD/PhD students. Each year Ms. Batson visited the medical center to have lunch with the Batson Scholars, hear their life’s stories and share her experiences, especially with the health care system in America.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
civil rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
and education activist.
Batson's career began with the NAACP Boston Branch. While representing the NAACP in local, regional and national capacities, her most renowned accomplishment occurred in the early 1960s when she led the challenge to the Boston Public School system
Boston Public Schools
Boston Public Schools is a school district serving the city of Boston, Massachusetts, United States.-Leadership:The district is led by a Superintendent, hired by the Boston School Committee, a seven-member school board appointed by the Mayor after approval by a nominating committee of specified...
for educational equality for African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
students in Boston.
She had charged school administrators and the School Committee with ignoring "a basic American concept that equal opportunity should be available to all people regardless of race, color, or creed."
Batson attended Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
(Master of Education degree) and Northeastern University. She retired as a tenured professor of psychiatry
Psychiatry
Psychiatry is the medical specialty devoted to the study and treatment of mental disorders. These mental disorders include various affective, behavioural, cognitive and perceptual abnormalities...
at Boston University School of Medicine
Boston University School of Medicine
Boston University School of Medicine is one of the graduate schools of Boston University. Founded in 1848, the medical school holds the unique distinction as the first institution in the world to formally educate female physicians. Originally known as the New England Female Medical College, it was...
Division of Psychiatry, after more than ten years.
She was a member of the board of visitors of Boston University’s School of Medicine; trustees, Boston City Hospital
Boston City Hospital
The Boston City Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, was "intended for the use and comfort of poor patients, to whom medical care will be provided at the expense of the city, and .....
; member, Corporation of the Massachusetts General Hospital
Massachusetts General Hospital
Massachusetts General Hospital is a teaching hospital and biomedical research facility in the West End neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts...
and former member of its board of trustees; and board member of Roxbury Community College
Roxbury Community College
Roxbury Community College is a community college in the Roxbury Crossing neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. RCC offers associate degrees in arts, and sciences, as well as certificates...
Foundation.
She was the author of The Black Educational Movement in Boston: A Sequence of Historical Events (1638-1975), a comprehensive chronology documenting the heroic efforts and contributions of African American parents to educational history in Boston. Northeastern University published the manuscript of nearly 900 pages in October, 2001.
She was the first black woman on the Democratic National Committee
Democratic National Committee
The Democratic National Committee is the principal organization governing the United States Democratic Party on a day to day basis. While it is responsible for overseeing the process of writing a platform every four years, the DNC's central focus is on campaign and political activity in support...
and the first woman elected president of NAACP’s New England Regional Conference, a role in which she served from 1957 to 1960.
After serving as chairwoman of the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination
Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination
The Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination is the primary agency for civil rights law enforcement, outreach, and training in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts...
from 1963 to 1966, she helped launched the METCO (Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity
METCO
METCO stands for the Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity. Founded in 1966 in Boston, Massachusetts, METCO is the longest continuously running voluntary school desegregation program in the country and a national model for the few other voluntary desegregation busing programs currently...
) voluntary desegregation
Desegregation
Desegregation is the process of ending the separation of two groups usually referring to races. This is most commonly used in reference to the United States. Desegregation was long a focus of the American Civil Rights Movement, both before and after the United States Supreme Court's decision in...
program. As associate director then director, she helped guide METCO’s growth from transporting 225 black urban youngsters to sever suburbs to 1,125 children to 28 communities. She stepped down in 1969.
She was the founder in 1969 of the Ruth M. Batson Educational Foundation which provided grants to African American college students for tuition and emergency needs. The Batson Foundation also awards grants to educational institutions and community organizations whose program objectives reflect the philosophy of the Batson Foundation. In its 34 years of giving, the Batson Foundation has awarded over US$1,200,000 in grants.
More recently Batson had directed the revitalized Museum of African American History on Beacon Hill, stepping down in 1990.
She leaves three grandsons and three daughters, Cassandra Way of Boston, Dorothy Owusu of Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2009, the city had a total population of 139,966. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately six miles south of downtown Washington, D.C.Like the rest of northern Virginia, as well as...
, and acting coach Susan Batson
Susan Batson
Susan Batson is an American producer, actress, author, and acting coach. Susan's mother, Ruth Batson, was a noted civil rights activist.-As an actress:* Running Out of Time in Hollywood * Everyone's Depressed .... Annette...
of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Her financial support for medical students at Boston University School of Medicine
Boston University School of Medicine
Boston University School of Medicine is one of the graduate schools of Boston University. Founded in 1848, the medical school holds the unique distinction as the first institution in the world to formally educate female physicians. Originally known as the New England Female Medical College, it was...
, the school, under the leadership of Dr. Aram Chobanian
Aram Chobanian
Aram V. Chobanian was president ad interim of Boston University from 2003 until June 9, 2005, when, in recognition of Chobanian’s work, the Board of Trustees voted to remove “ad interim” from his title and designate him the ninth president of Boston University. He had succeeded controversial B.U...
, established the Ruth Batson Scholarship in 1997. Since that time the school has awarded more than US$500,000 in scholarships to 40 Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
Minority Medical Students, including four MD/PhD students. Each year Ms. Batson visited the medical center to have lunch with the Batson Scholars, hear their life’s stories and share her experiences, especially with the health care system in America.
Sources
- Boston University obituary
- Boston Women's Heritage Trail
- Harvard Gazette 10-9-97
- Ruth M. Batson, recorded interview by Sheldon Stern, January 24, 1979, John F. Kennedy Library Oral History Program.