The Extraordinary Life and Legacy of Willa Beatrice Player

America’s First Black Woman Elected President of a Four-Year College

Some lives seem to start ordinary only to end up making an impact that’s felt for generations to come. Willa Beatrice Player is one of these extraordinary people. In honor of her upcoming birthday, let’s take a closer look at her amazing life and legacy.

From Humble Beginnings to Academic Prestige

Willa Player was born on August 9, 1909, to a tight-knit family of modest means. The youngest of three children, Ms. Player had a great childhood, where she was active in her church choir and enjoyed learning new things. That passion for learning helped her earn her place at Ohio Wesleyan University, where she would major in Latin and minor in French and religion. After graduating in 1929, Ms. Player went on to earn a master’s degree from Oberlin College and eventually a Ph.D from Columbia University.

A Woman With a Mission

In 1930, at just 21 years old, Willa Player was hired by Bennett College in Greensboro, NC, to teach French and Latin. The traditionally black college offered an exciting opportunity to pursue her passions. In 1952, Ms. Player was promoted to Vice President, and in 1955, she made history as the first black woman appointed president of a four-year college.

While the promotion was an honor, Ms. Player knew she had a responsibility to use it wisely. America was in the midst of the Civil Rights movement, and Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. was making waves.

Hosting Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Where many universities didn’t want to get involved, Ms. Player wasn’t afraid to take a stand. When asked if Bennett College would host Dr. King, she famously replied, “Bennett College is a liberal arts college where ‘freedom rings’, so King can speak here.” But she didn’t stop there.

Support for Student Activism

Willa Player knew the importance of using your voice to speak out against injustice. She had experienced discrimination herself during her own college years and wanted to encourage the women at Bennett College to act on their beliefs for activism and civil rights. She motivated them to participate in sit-ins and protests and even provided support to students who were jailed and couldn’t complete their assignments on time.

Willa Player used her position to make a real impact and to fight for equal rights for all. In 1962, she became the first woman president of the National Association of Schools and Colleges of the Methodist Church, another historic position. Willa Beatrice Player proved that one woman can make a lasting difference and use her position to make the world a better place.

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