Ethel Ray Nance, American Icon from Duluth Honored with Community Events

DULUTH, Minn. — A commemoration is taking place this week and weekend to celebrate a woman who made history.

Ethel Ray Nance was born on April 13th, 1899, in Duluth. She is considered one of the most important Civil and Women’s Rights icons in America.
She became the first African American female police officer on the Minneapolis Police force. Ethel achieved many other things as well becoming a writer and researcher, as well as working for the founder of National NAACP.

Ethel’s granddaughter wrote a book on her titled, Ethel Ray: Living in the White, Gray, and Black. She says this is just the first of many ways to honor her late grandmother.

“It’s an opportunity to highlight her life. The house that they grew up in is no longer there so, my goal is to rebuild that house into a museum or a cultural center. To have a film about her life, that’s what we’re working on as well. So, many exciting opportunities to highlight her 93 years so, we’re really excited about that,” said Karen Felicia Nance, author and Ethel’s granddaughter.

Friday a proclamation was held for Ethel who would have been 125 years old on Saturday. Around 13 of her family members are also in town to honor her.