Dr. Justina Ford
The Alleged Freedom of the West
1844
Oregon's Provisional Government enacted a law excluding Black people from settling in the state. If a Black person were to defy this, they would be publicly whipped.
~1890
Sundown towns began appearing, enforcing violent and racist policy to maintain whiteness in their neighborhoods. Colorado had several sundown towns, including Golden and Loveland.
1925
Colorado elected Clarence Morely as state governor, a man who was heavily involved in Denver's KKK.
Her Life and Achievements
In 1899, Justina Ford graduated from Hering Medical College with the intention of practicing medicine and serving her community. Despite her skills and intelligence, racist attitudes prevailed. As a medical director in Alabama, she was forced to leave due to the racist sentiments against her. In 1902, she and her husband arrived in Denver. However, despite the respite the West seemed to offer from racist policies, Denver hospitals would not hire Black doctors, nor accept Black patients. Dr. Ford decided she would set up a private practice in her Five Points home and serve the community the hospitals were denying. She was incredibly knowledgeable in childbirth and assisted thousands of individuals in delivery.
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Became first Black woman doctor in United States
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Delivered more than 7,000 babies
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Practiced medicine in a private practice
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University of Colorado scholarship in her name
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Inducted into Colorado's Women's Hall of Fame in 1985
