By Craig A. Thompson
Twenty-six years ago during the month of May, the Supreme Court struck down one of the most damaging vestiges of slavery and the Jim Crow tradition by declaring that state laws which established separate public schools for black and white students denied black children equal educational opportunities and were unconstitutional.
This important decision overturned Plessy v. Ferguson, an 1896 decision which declared that “separate but equal” public facilities were constitutional. The unanimous decision, handed down on May 17, 1954, confirmed that “separate educational facilities are inherently unequal,” and helped pave the way for additional victories in the civil rights movement.
Within the last month, the civil rights community lost three giants, and their deaths have shocked our country into realizing a sobering reality: The gains made by those who were younger at that time must be continued today as those activists grow older.
A true fighter until the end
Dorothy Height started her career working as a caseworker with the New York City Welfare Department. She began her career in the civil rights movement when she joined the National Council of Negro Women as young woman.
She was a tireless fighter for equal rights for both African Americans and women, and often clashed with some male members of the civil rights movement who themselves viewed women as second-class citizens. During her tenure with the YWCA and numerous political and civic organizations, she developed successful leadership training programs, as well as interracial educational programs.
Height became best known as the president of the National Council of Negro Women, a position she held for more than 40 years. During her tenure, she organized “Wednesdays in Mississippi,” a weekly event that brought together black and white women from the North and South to create a dialogue of understanding between the groups.
Height was an advisor to a number of American presidents and served on a large number of committees both nationally and internationally.
She never let them see her sweat
Lena Horne, a talented actress, singer and stage performer, was heavily involved with the civil rights movement for many years.
She refused to perform for segregated audiences, or for groups in which German POWs were seated in front of African American servicemen during World War II. She met with President John F. Kennedy and various civil rights leaders to discuss ways to end the tradition and practice of segregation, and she participated in the March on Washington. She worked closely with Eleanor Roosevelt to introduce and enact anti-lynching laws throughout the country.
Unfortunately, Horne’s immense talent and fame could not prevent the wheels of racism and segregation from harming her career. Like a number of politically active artists during that time, Horne was blacklisted and prohibited from performing on television, radio or in the movies for close to 10 years.
Making lemonade out of lemons, she hit the road and worked as a singer, appearing in clubs and nightclubs and making what some consider her best recordings.
Champion for equal business opportunities
Born in significant poverty, Raymond Haysbert worked hard throughout his life. He became a successful member of the Tuskegee Airmen, serving honorably in Italy, Africa and other countries during World War II prior to settling in Baltimore.
Here he joined the company started by Henry Parks that became known throughout the country as one of the largest and most successful minority-owned businesses in history. Parks Sausage quickly became known by its creative advertisements featuring a hungry young boy asking for “More Parks Sausages, Mom, please!”
Haysbert was considered an astute political insider, and an adviser to numerous candidates and holders of public office. He was the campaign treasurer for Harry A. Cole, the first black state senator in Maryland history, and assisted with the integration of Baltimore politics by working diligently to secure a seat for Mr. Parks on the Baltimore City Council in 1963.
Haysbert was a statesman and renowned community leader whose name became linked with the ongoing fight for entrepreneurial equality in Baltimore and beyond.
With the recent deaths of these three great champions of justice, the call is now even stronger to those in current and future generations to learn more, build more and work harder to maintain the gains and accomplishments that were achieved with grace, strength and constancy of purpose. We can do it, because we’ve seen it done.
Craig A. Thompson is a partner at Venable LLP, and represents clients in the areas of commercial litigation, products liability, and personal injury. He is the chair of the firm’s diversity committee. He is also the author of a series of children’s books on African-American history. His e-mail address is CAThompson@Venable.com.
