On Sept. 1, 1867, Robert Tanner Freeman became the first Black graduate of Harvard Dental School, making history as one of the first professionally trained Black dentists in the United States. Born to formerly enslaved parents in North Carolina, Freeman overcame barriers of racism and exclusion that kept African Americans out of medical training. He later practiced in Washington, D.C., mentoring young Black men who sought to enter the field. His groundbreaking achievement paved the way for greater Black representation in medicine and dentistry.

Subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed with the latest news from a leading Black-owned & controlled media company: https://aurn.com/newsletter

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices