A Trailblazer in Law and Advocacy
Charlotte E. Ray, born on January 13, 1850, in New York City, holds a distinguished place in American history as the first African American woman to practice law in the United States. Her life and career serve as a testament to resilience, intellect, and determination during an era rife with racial and gender discrimination. Ray was the youngest of three daughters born to Reverend Charles Bennett Ray and Charlotte Augusta Burroughs Ray. Her father was a prominent abolitionist, minister, and editor of the *Colored American*, a leading African American newspaper during the antebellum period. Her mother, originally from Savannah, Georgia, provided a nurturing environment that supported education and ambition. The family relocated to Washington, D.C., where opportunities for African American children to receive formal education were slightly more accessible.
Charlotte Ray attended the Institution for the Education of Colored Youth in Washington, D.C., the only school in the area that admitted African American girls. She graduated in 1869 at the age of 19, demonstrating academic excellence and a commitment to learning. Shortly thereafter, she joined Howard University’s Preparatory and Normal Department as a teacher. However, Ray’s aspirations extended beyond teaching; she sought to break barriers by pursuing a career in law. At the time, Howard University’s Law School was reluctant to admit women. Undeterred, Ray applied under the name “C.E. Ray” to obscure her gender. Her application was accepted, and she became one of the few women—and the first African American woman—to matriculate at the institution. Ray focused her studies on commercial law and completed her degree in 1872, becoming the first black woman in the United States to graduate from law school. Notably, she was only the third woman of any race to achieve this milestone.
Ray’s accomplishments did not stop there. On April 23, 1872, she became the first African American woman admitted to the bar in the District of Columbia, following a recent change in admission requirements that removed gender-specific language. This achievement marked a significant step forward for women in the legal profession. Despite her qualifications and groundbreaking achievements, Ray faced substantial challenges in her legal career. Racial and gender biases made it difficult for her to attract clients and sustain her practice. After several years of struggling to establish herself as an attorney in Washington, D.C., she returned to New York in 1879 and transitioned into teaching in Brooklyn.
In addition to her professional pursuits, Charlotte E. Ray became an advocate for women’s suffrage and civil rights. She attended the 1876 conference of the National Woman’s Suffrage Association as a delegate and later joined the National Association of Colored Women upon its founding in 1895. Her activism reflected her lifelong commitment to equality and justice. Ray moved to Woodside, a suburban community on Long Island, New York, in 1897. Little is known about her personal life during these later years. In 1886, she married a man named Fraim, but details about their marriage remain unclear. The couple had no children.
Charlotte E. Ray passed away on January 4, 1911, just shy of her 61st birthday. Though her legal career was brief, her legacy endures as an inspiration to generations of women and African Americans who have followed her path into the legal profession. Her perseverance in the face of systemic discrimination underscores her role as a pioneer who paved the way for greater inclusion and equality in American society.