Come Along with Me: An African American Woman’s Journey for Justice

The first Black woman graduate of the University of South Carolina recounts a life of activism and service

Come Along with Me is a compelling memoir of resilience, activism, and breaking barriers in the causes of health equity and social justice. Henrie Monteith Treadwell recounts her personal and legal struggles to become the first African American student admitted to the University of South Carolina since Reconstruction, a pivotal moment in civil rights history.

Through reflections on her experiences and accomplishments in health advocacy, policy reform, and social justice, Treadwell highlights the continued struggles for racial and gender equity in higher education, health care, and beyond. She underscores the importance of acknowledging historical injustices while actively working toward a more inclusive and just society. More than a personal narrative, Come Along with Me is a call to action. For anyone committed to change, these pages provide rich evidence that progress is possible when individuals challenge barriers, demand justice, and open doors for future generations.

Published in cooperation with the University of South Carolina Division of Access, Civil Rights, and Community Engagement.

Henrie Monteith Treadwell was the first African American woman to attend and graduate from the University of South Carolina. She later earned a PhD in biochemistry and molecular biology from Atlanta University. She was program director for the W. K. Kellogg Foundation and is a world-renowned public health expert affiliated with the Morehouse School of Medicine.