English, Josephine (1920-2011)

Josephine English was the daughter of Whittie English Sr. and Jennie English. She and her siblings were raised in Englewood. Her brother, Whittie English Jr. built a successfuly real estate business in Englewood and the surrounding towns. 

Dr. English was a trailblazing obstetrician–gynecologist and one of the most influential Black women physicians of the twentieth century. Born in Virginia and raised in Englewood New Jersey, English forged a distinguished path in medicine at a time when both racial and gender barriers sharply limited opportunities for African American women in the profession.

She earned her undergraduate degree from Hunter College and completed her medical training at Meharry Medical College, one of the nation’s foremost historically Black medical institutions. After residency, English established herself in Brooklyn, New York, where she became the first Black woman licensed to practice obstetrics and gynecology in New York State. Over the course of her career, she delivered thousands of babies and became an anchor of reproductive and maternal health care for Black and working-class families across Brooklyn. She delivered all of Malcolm X's and Betty Shabazz's children.

Dr. English’s medical practice was inseparable from her community activism. She founded several women’s health clinics aimed at expanding access to prenatal care, family planning, and reproductive health services for underserved populations. Her commitment to accessible care made her a beloved and essential figure in Bedford-Stuyvesant and Crown Heights, where she was known not only as a physician but as a mentor, advocate, and cultural leader.

Beyond medicine, English was also a philanthropist and arts supporter. She founded the Paul Robeson Theater in Brooklyn, transforming an abandoned church into a vibrant cultural space that hosted productions, community events, and youth programming. Her work embodied a vision of holistic community care—addressing not just physical health but cultural life, social well-being, and neighborhood empowerment.

Throughout her life, Dr. Josephine English received numerous awards for her service, including recognition from city and state governments for her contributions to public health and community development. Her legacy endures through the countless families she served, the institutions she built, and her enduring example of Black female leadership in medicine and community life.

Tat, Lihn. "Dr. Josephine English, 91." The Record, 1 Jan. 2012, p.L3.

“Josephine English.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 29 Jan. 2024.

1920-12-17

Ontario, Virginia, uSA

2011-12-18

Tat, Lihn. "Dr. Josephine English, 91." The Record, 1 Jan. 2012, p.L3.