You’re reading a story from Sidelines 100, a project showcasing a century of student storytelling at Middle Tennessee State University. Sidelines 100 plans to highlight 100 stories from the newspaper archives this fall and spring.

This story originally ran in the Feb. 1, 1999, edition of Sidelines. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay on top of all things Sidelines 100.

Mary Scales, a mathematics professor, broke the color line here at MTSU when she became the first African American professor to teach full-time in the early 1970s.

While filling the position of Supervisor of Instruction for the Rutherford County School System, Scales was offered a job to teach full time at MTSU.

“I was stunned,” Scales said. “I was thrilled!”

Scales said another African American professor was already here but he was only part-time. She also said there were African American students on campus but “only a handful.”

Scales said it was quite a challenge just to walk on the campus as an African American professor. She said dealing with faculty was the hardest part. She recalled glances from some professors who sometimes wouldn’t respond when she spoke to them. The rude behavior of some of the other faculty members frustrated her but she appeared nonchalant until she got home.

Scales went on to say that although times were tough, she remained positive because she wanted to help students and serve as a role model for other professors.

“I would come home and kick the furniture, but I wouldn’t let them know,” Scales said jokingly. “I felt a little alone, but some faculty members came to my rescue and reached out to me.”

“Administration was very cooperative. They gave everything I needed,” Scales said appreciatively.

When speaking of her classes, Scales said things were normal. She said the students didn’t treat her any differently from any other professor.

“Some students said, ‘I never had a Black teacher before,'” Scales said.

When describing herself as a teacher, Scales said she always had control of her classes and that she was tough. Scales showed her students how much she cared by always being there when they needed her, even allowing them to come to her home.

Scales left MTSU and returned years later. She later ran for city council, where she served for four years. She also served on the school board for six years.

Throughout her life, Scales and her husband have fought hard for civil rights. She said her actions were motivated by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Although she and her husband had to overcome several obstacles due to their activism, they have successfully paved the way for the young African Americans of today. She said African Americans have come a long way, and they still have a long way to go.

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