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 in 1839 to formerly enslaved parents in North Carolina, Freeman overcame barriers of racism and exclusion that had kept African Americans out of professional medical training.
He was one of only six students admitted to Harvard Dental School’s inaugural class and the sole Black graduate.
After earning his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree, Freeman practiced in Washington, D.C., where he also mentored young Black men aspiring to enter the field.
His groundbreaking achievements paved the way for greater Black representation in American medicine and dentistry.
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