Anita Hemmings, the first African-American graduate of Vassar.
Anita Hemmings became the first black woman to graduate from Vassar College in 1897 — forty-three years before Vassar opened its doors to black students.
The whole story is here, and it’s a great one. (I found it via this excellent post by TransGriot discussing the use of the term “passing” to describe transpeople.)
studentactivism.net 
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April 29, 2009 at 12:31 pm
Monica R
Thanks for the link love and for posting Anita Hemmings story. It’s a nice reminder that the things that we are achieving as African descended people in the early 21st century are built on the courageous achievements of our 19th and 20th century and beyond ancestors.
We also can’t forget the role that student activists played in those civil rights advancements as well.
April 29, 2009 at 4:55 pm
wdcrachel
This is great. I have always been fascinated by passing stories. This instance proves how many holes there likely are in the historical record. I especially love the quote from Vassar’s president when Hemmings’ daughter attended as white that she likely did not know that she was black even though the school did. Wow.