Richardson, along with 21 of her classmates, co-founded the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority in 1913 with a stated goal of "want[ing] to do more for our community".

[3] All 22 founders joined the 1913 Woman Suffrage Procession, marching in their cap and gowns[4] and enduring verbal and physical abuse from the larger crowd.

[6] Upon graduation, Richardson taught elementary students in East St. Louis, Illinois, a segregated public school.

After East St. Louis, Richardson moved to Princeton, New Jersey, teaching in another segregated school system.

While in Princeton, Richardson successfully advocated for African American teachers to have their own bathroom facilities.