
Anita Florence Hemmings

Anita Florence Hemmings (June 8, 1872 – 1960) was known as the first African-American woman to graduate from Vassar College. After graduation she became a librarian at the Boston Public Library.
She married a doctor, also of African-American and European ancestry, and they both passed as white as adults, for socioeconomic benefits. They did not tell their children about their biracial ancestry. 
Personal life.
Anita Hemmings was born June 8, 1872, in Boston to Dora Logan "(maiden;" 1856–1941) and Robert Williamson Hemmings, Sr. (1843–1908). Anita was raised as an Episcopalian. After attending local schools, she was admitted to Vassar College, which she had dreamed of attending since she was a child. She is believed to have been the first African American to graduate from Vassar.
After graduation, she became a librarian in Boston.
Secondary and higher education.
Anita Hemmings attended preparation school at Girls' High School in Boston and Northfield, where she had been roommates with Elizabeth Baker "(maiden;" 1868–1943), who, on September 23, 1896, married William Henry Lewis (1868–1949). 
Fulfilling a childhood dream, Anita attended Vassar, and earned a bachelor of arts degree in 1897. Based on her appearance and visible European ancestry, she was apparently assumed to be white. About the time she graduated, a Boston newspaper reported that Fred J. Hemmings, an African American, had graduated from MIT, and he had a sister at Vassar. Her story came out.
Later, rumors circulated that she should have been valedictorian, but they were false. Some said that Anita was the most attractive woman in her class. Classmates believed that she may have had 'Indian blood', as she was darker skinned than some girls and had straight black hair. She sang soprano in the glee club and was the featured soloist at the local churches in Poughkeepsie.
In 1997, Vassar African-American studies students petitioned college president Frances D. Fergusson to recognize Anita Hemmings at that year's centennial celebration. Writing about it in "Vassar Quarterly", Olivia Mancini, a local journalist, said this recognition "brought [Hemmings’] graduation and presence to a level of honor that it should have had a hundred years ago." Vassar has acknowledged Anita Hemmings as the first African American to graduate the college, and noted that for almost all of her college career, she was thought to be white.
In popular culture.
In November 2017, it was announced that Zendaya will produce and star in a biopic of Hemmings' life titled "A White Lie", based on the 2016 novel "The Gilded Years" by Karin Tanabe. This explores Hemmings' life in a fictional way. Reese Witherspoon will also produce the project and Monica Beletsky will write the script. TriStar Pictures will distribute the film.
See also.
Biographies of other multi-racial people
Film
Filmmakers
Literature
Terminology