Civil Rights Lawyer. She was admitted to the bar in 1943 and became the second black woman ever to practice law in the State of Missouri. As a lawyer, she gained national attention being involved in the landmark 1948 Shelley vs. Kraemer US Supreme Court Case which put an end to restrictive covenants used to prevent African Americans from buying homes. Also in 1948, she became the first black women in Missouri to run for Congress and in the 1950s, served as US Attorney for the Rural Electrification Administration, US Department of Agriculture and as Assistant Attorney General of Missouri. In 1963, she was elected to the board of the National Association, for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the nation's largest civil rights organization. She became the first African American woman chairman of the organization in 1975, serving until 1983. She served as chairman of the board for the African-American colleges St. Augustine's, Talladega and as trustee-emeritae of Washington University in St. Louis and Webster University. In 1991, the University of Missouri-St. Louis, awarded her an honorary doctor of laws degree and she also was Chair of Law Day 2000 for the American Bar Association.
Civil Rights Lawyer. She was admitted to the bar in 1943 and became the second black woman ever to practice law in the State of Missouri. As a lawyer, she gained national attention being involved in the landmark 1948 Shelley vs. Kraemer US Supreme Court Case which put an end to restrictive covenants used to prevent African Americans from buying homes. Also in 1948, she became the first black women in Missouri to run for Congress and in the 1950s, served as US Attorney for the Rural Electrification Administration, US Department of Agriculture and as Assistant Attorney General of Missouri. In 1963, she was elected to the board of the National Association, for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the nation's largest civil rights organization. She became the first African American woman chairman of the organization in 1975, serving until 1983. She served as chairman of the board for the African-American colleges St. Augustine's, Talladega and as trustee-emeritae of Washington University in St. Louis and Webster University. In 1991, the University of Missouri-St. Louis, awarded her an honorary doctor of laws degree and she also was Chair of Law Day 2000 for the American Bar Association.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
Advertisement
