U.S. Census Bureau Black History Month Feature for February 21

WASHINGTON, Feb. 21, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is the daily Black History Month feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:

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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 21: FIRST BLACK FEMALE DENTIST

Profile America for the 21st day of Black History Month.  At a time when women were just beginning to be accepted into the medical professions, Ida Gray became the first African-American woman to earn a doctor of dental surgery degree.  She graduated from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor in 1890.  Born in Clarksville, Tennessee in 1867, Gray was raised by a relative after her mother died at a young age.  Later, she worked in a dental office run by two brothers, one of whom helped found the American Dental Association, and advocated allowing women into the profession.  Gray practiced dentistry until the 1930s, and died in 1953.  There are 152,000 dentists in the U.S., 27 percent female and just over 3 percent black.  This special edition of Profile America is a public service of the U.S. Census Bureau.  

Sources: www.blackscholarsindex.com

Statistical Abstract of the United States 2010, t. 603

Profile America is produced by the Public Information Office of the U.S. Census Bureau. These daily features are available as produced segments, ready to air, on a monthly CD or on the Internet at http://www.census.gov (look for "Multimedia Gallery" by the "Newsroom" button).  For further information, contact Rick Reed:  301-763-2812; fax: 301-763-3762; or e-mail: rreed-at-census.gov.

SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau