The incredible journey of Dr. Olivia Hooker saw her survive racial violence as a child before making history as the first African American woman to join the Coast Guard. Though long overlooked, her tale later resurfaced as an icon of courage.
Escaping Tulsa’s “Black Wall Street” Massacre
Born in 1915 Oklahoma, Hooker was just 6 when the Tulsa Race Massacre leveled her father’s store and neighborhood. The notorious 1921 racist attacks devastated Tulsa’s prosperous Black community nicknamed “Black Wall Street.”
After losing their business, the Hookers relocated to Ohio seeking a safer home for their children. The events remained seared into young Olivia’s memory, however.
Answering the Call to Serve
In 1944, the military opened female branches to Black enlistment. Despite prior rejection from the Navy, Hooker soon joined the Coast Guard’s female reserve corps, the SPARs. On February 17th, 1945, she officially became the first African American woman Coast Guardsman.
“It was not easy for Miss Hooker to take the step of enlistment,” noted Lt. Margaret Tighe, her proud recruiter. Still, Hooker persevered to participate in the war effort.
Breaking Barriers at Cape May
Petty Officer 3rd Class Hooker trained for months in New York before receiving assignment to Boston’s separation center. There she processed discharges, including for a shaken 18-year-old D-Day survivor, reminding her of war’s heavy toll.
With most guardsmen soon returning home, the pioneering veteran filed her own discharge papers in 1946 after a brief but barrier-breaking service.
Leaving a Legacy of Leadership
Using her GI benefits, Hooker became a psychologist and educator who chaired community organizations for decades more. In her 90s, she even advocated for Tulsa Race Massacre reparations and recognition.
Upon receiving a 2015 honor, the centenarian shared her ethos: “It’s not about you or me; it’s about what we can give to this world.” Dr. Hooker embodied that spirit until her passing at 103 in 2018.
The Coast Guard now honors her legacy with dedications like the newly christened Dr. Olivia Hooker Building. Though long overlooked, Hooker’s valiant odyssey endures as a guiding light for future generations.
