Dr. Evangelina Rodriguez (1879 - 1947)

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception

latinegro:

reclaimingthelatinatag:

Dr. Evangelina Rodriguez (1879 - 1947) was an Afro-Dominican and the first woman in the Dominican Republic to become a doctor.

She graduated from the University of Santo Domingo in 1909 and went on to study and graduate from University of Paris-Sorbonne where she specialized in gynecology and pediatrics.

She returned to the Dominican Republic in 1925 and opened up her own practice where she treated women and children while providing education on family planning. She lived during the time of Trujillo, whom she openly denounced, where the harassment and discrimination of blacks were open and even encouraged.

She experienced mental illness later in life before she passed away in 1947. Today the Dr. Evangelia Rodriquez clinic exists in San Francisco de Macoris providing the same services that she provided just a century ago.…

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/anthony-otero/black-history-month-afro-_b_2642635.html?utm_hp_ref=latino-voices