Before Rebecca Lee Crumpler
Crumpler's gender and race made almost everything harder in her life. Her incredible determination led her to help women and civil rights, despite much discrimination. Many felt women were too sensitive, not smart enough, and physically unable to be physicians. She also lived from 1831-1865 (before, during, and after the Civil War) when tensions between races ran high. Prior to Crumpler, these people also made "firsts" in medicine and fought for their rights.
Source: BlackPast
James McCune Smith was the first black with a degree to practice medicine in America. In 1837 he got his medical degree in Scotland, and later returned to the U.S. to practice medicine and work towards equality.
Source: BlackPast
David Jones Peck was the first black to earn a degree in America. He graduated in 1847 and also practiced medicine and worked towards ending segregation. Similar to Crumpler he went to a white medical school, making it difficult to succeed in getting his degree.
Source: The Library of Congress
Elizabeth Blackwell was the first female in the U.S. to earn a medical degree. She, despite discrimination, led the charge for women in the medical field, similar to the way Rebecca Lee Crumpler did for black women. Blackwell also opened the first U.S. hospital operated by women and a women's medical college, contributing to an increased number of women in medicine, including Crumpler.
The Emancipation Proclamation went into effect in 1863, freeing all U.S. slaves. Crumpler was already a nurse, accepted and attending college before much of her race was even free.
The Emmancipation Proclamation; Source: The Library of Congress