Eliza Grier’s journey to becoming the first Black woman licensed to practice medicine in Georgia is a powerful story of resilience.
Born into slavery, she faced racial discrimination and financial struggles while pursuing her dream of becoming a doctor. Grier’s determination to serve her community led her to alternate between medical school and picking cotton to pay her tuition, ultimately achieving her goal in 1898.
Grier’s Tireless Pursuit of Medical Education
Eliza Grier’s path to becoming a doctor was anything but straightforward. After emancipation, she dedicated herself to education, working for seven years to graduate from Fisk University in Tennessee as a teacher. However, she soon realized that her calling was in medicine, where she believed she could best serve her race.
In 1890, she wrote to the Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania, expressing her desire to study medicine. Grier’s letter was heartfelt, stating, “I have no money and no source from which to get it, only as I work for every dollar.” She sought any opportunity to work during her studies, asking if there was “any possible way… for an emancipated slave to receive any help into so lofty a profession.”
Seven Years of Alternating Work and Study
The journey to her medical degree was a long one. Grier alternated each year of medical study with a year of picking cotton to pay her tuition fees. Despite the grueling work and financial strain, she persevered, finally graduating in 1897. Her dedication was not just for personal achievement but to change the status quo in her community.
Grier’s determination was driven by the unfairness she observed in her community. She saw Black women doing the hard work during childbirth while white doctors collected the fees. She decided that, as a trained physician, she could rightfully earn those fees and provide quality care to her community.
Breaking Barriers in Georgia’s Medical Field
In 1898, Grier applied for a medical license in Fulton County, Georgia, becoming the first Black woman licensed to practice medicine in the state. Her achievement was a milestone, especially in a time when racial and gender discrimination were rampant. Grier returned to Atlanta, her lifelong home, ready to serve.
She faced significant challenges as a Black woman in medicine, but her talent and perseverance earned her respect. “Some of the best white doctors in the city have welcomed me,” she said.
“That is all I ask.” Despite the support from some quarters, Grier still faced financial struggles throughout her career, seeking aid from various supporters to continue her practice.
A Legacy Cut Short
Unfortunately, Grier’s medical career was brief. In 1901, she fell ill and struggled to maintain her practice.
Despite her challenges, she sought assistance, writing to Susan B. Anthony for help when she could no longer continue working. Grier’s life ended shortly after, but her legacy as a pioneering doctor remains.
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