In 1921, Sadie Alexander graduated from University of Pennsylvania with a doctorate in Economics. She became the first black person in America to earn a doctorate in Economics and the second black female to earn a doctorate in general. From there, she attended University of Pennsylvania’s law school and became the first black woman to graduate from this law school. Sadie took her studies even further and passes the bar exam, becoming the first black woman to do so.

During her time in law, Sadie was appointed by President Harry Truman to his Committee on Civil Rights. Also, during her time in law school, she helped found the National Bar Association.