In the 1800s, there were many events that affected a large population of African Americans making their lives difficult to accomplish many things. One of the biggest events that led to helping ease the tension between the onslaught of African Americans and Americans was the fact that African Americans regained their rights after the abolition of slavery in 1865. If I could go back in time to meet one of the many seminal leaders in the 1800s era, I would choose Daniel Hale Williams, who was the first African American to perform successful pericardial heart surgery in Chicago, Illinois. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Daniel Hale Williams has had many monumental moments for future students, showing them that no matter your path and background, you can still have a great future if you follow your dreams. Daniel was born in Hollidaysburg on January 18, 1858. When Williams was a young boy, he had to move around the United States several times due to difficult situations in his life. Daniel later had a passion for learning new things, for example barbering, which he learned from his father who owned an inherited barber shop that was passed down descendant of his bloodline. The one thing his father taught him and his brothers before he died, was that if you ever want a better life, you have to start with a good education. A year before his death, Daniel and his family moved to Annapolis, Maryland in 1865 to live with his mother's family. At the age of 10 he was sent to live with one of his family's friends who owned a training school. for kids who taught kids how to be shoemakers. Daniel at age 15 ran away to a train station because he no longer liked the idea of ​​making shoes, so he asked a friend who worked there to provide him with a train ticket, so Daniel could visit his mother in Illinois. When Daniel arrived in Rockford, Illinois, he found his mother and two of his sisters living with one of their cousins ​​who let him stay in their home. Williams soon found a high school in town that remained open for a few months each year. While he went to school during the day, he practiced being a barber after school. Around 1878, when Williams was 22 years old, he began to have a great interest in the study of medicine. He found that Dr. Henry Palmer was the best doctor known in Wisconsin, which led to his perseverance in the work. Dr. Henry hired Daniel and gave him simple office jobs, such as cleaning, organizing, and assisting in driving to patients' homes. If Williams wasn't helping Dr. Henry Palmer with his patients or in the office, he would be reading his medical books to try to learn. When Dr. Henry Palmer deemed Williams and the other two trainees ready to attend a real medical school, he told them about the best school there was in the state; Chicago School of Medicine. Williams really wanted to go to this school along with the other contestants, but he didn't have enough money. He sent a letter to his family and family friends. They all responded by letting him know that unfortunately they were unable to help him with his financial crisis. At this time, the New York stock markets also collapsed leading to a depression and price deflation. This affected everyone in the United States, but especially those who were lower class or of color like Williams and his family. Williams sent another letter asking for money from one of his friends. His name was HarryAnderson who gladly took a loan and helped Daniel pay for his first two years of medical school. Daniel moved to Chicago. He asked a family friend if he could live with her and she replied; YES. She also allowed him to work for her taking care of her horses and carriages so that she could save some extra money. These side tasks allowed Williams to pay for his room and school at the time. From WilliamLast year in medical school, he needed more money to finish his degree, so his brother Price helped him finish his third year. At the age of 27, Daniel Williams graduated from medical school. After graduation, his friend, Mrs. Jones, suggested everyone she knew go to Williams, which led to him having not only black patients, but white patients as well. Daniel was very passionate about his work. He demonstrated this by cleaning his patients' room, so as to minimize all chances of infections once his diligence was finished. He did this because he couldn't work with any hospital. Williams however began to make a name for himself after the medical school chose him to teach anatomy and surgical skills to some of its medical students in 1884. Williams was later accepted to work in the Freedmen's hospital, he actually claimed to have members of the staff of different races and having them learn the same medical procedures and methods that he learned. A year later, he helped create the National Medical Association. However, the American Medical Association did not accept African Americans or African American doctors. Daniel founded the Provident Hospital Association so that people of all races could be treated and seen by doctors, unlike the other hospitals around that segregated African Americans. The provident Daniels Hospital allowed monetary donations from people to become members of the association. Some very wealthy people in this era donated large sums of money and even the Sunday School children gave their pennies to feel part of the movement. During the Depression era, the hospital faced one of its biggest challenges, not having enough money and having to depend on the community to meet the hospital's basic needs, such as bedding and utilities. The hospital later received help from Williams' cousin, Fredrick Douglas, who was one of the hospital's major financiers. In exchange for their services, Williams treated them to chicken dinners and dancing. All the money raised went towards the hospital they were renovating as they initially purchased it was an abandoned building. The building later contained a dozen beds and was staffed by seven different groups of African Americans who were considered the elite doctors and nurses in training selected by Williams. One day Daniel had a patient arrive at his hospital with a stab wound. in his chest. This gentleman told Daniel that his name was Cornish, James and that he had been in an altercation with another man which had led to a fight in a bar. Daniel saw that his stab wound was serious and if he had been any doctor he would have told him that he would die soon because of how risky it was to cut someone open. These doctors knew how delicate the procedure was, and if one cut James open, he would die from an infection or possibly ruin something inside. But not Dr. Daniel Williams, he had taken his time with James in the operating room and made sure the room he was in was sterilized before and after. Daniel made a bold move in a patient's life-or-death decision. Mr Cornish could have been saved.