Thank you Theodora Fonteneau Rutherford -An unsung hero

Theodora is mentioned in Theresa Hammond's "A White Collar Profession African American Certified Public Accountants since 1921". I want to devote this blog to her. First of all I would like to thank her for her strength, endurance, perserverance, intelligence and stamina in becoming a pioneer in the field of accounting for not only people of color but also women of color. This strong woman was born in 1904 and graduated summa cum laude from Howard, at the age of 19. She went on to become the first person of color to earn a masters degree in accounting from Columbia, at the age of 20. She was the only woman of color and endured massive seperation but was able to become friends with a couple of white students. She, as they, were excited to begin practing accounting and becoming a CPA. But unlike them she wasn't able to become a CPA until 1960, a full 36 years after she earned her masters degree. She was 36 years behind her white counterparts in career ascension and earning power in the accounting field. Like the lady that she was. She gracefully accepted the designation without malice or bitterness. Thank you, thank you, thank you Mrs Rutherford. Because of you I can be me and so much more. I won't have to wait 36 years to practice accounting, I won't have to endure what you have. I am grounded in knowing that just 48 years ago I couldn't do what I am doing now. Though those years are beyond my age they are not that far away that they can't be remembered.