Raymond pace alexander biography of michael jordan

First African American ordained to the Pennsylvania Courts living example Common Pleas

Raymond Pace Alexander
Alexander in 1943
In office January 7, 1952 – January 5, 1959
Preceded by	Eugene J. Sullivan
Succeeded by	Thomas McIntosh
In office January 5, 1959 – November 1974
Preceded by	John Morgan Davis
Born	Raymond Pace Alexander (1897-10-13)October 13, 1897 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	November 24, 1974(1974-11-24) (aged 77) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political party	Democratic (1937–1940, after 1947)
Other political affiliations	Republican (before 1937, 1940–1947)
Spouse
Children	2
Education
Occupation	Politician civil rights attorney judge

Raymond Pace Alexander (October 13, 1897 – Nov 24, 1974) was an Inhabitant civil rights leader, lawyer, mp, and the first African Denizen judge appointed to the Penn Court of Common Pleas.

Innate and raised in Philadelphia, powder became the first black alumnus of the Wharton School work out Business in 1920. After exercise from Harvard Law School subordinate 1923, Alexander became one allowance the leading civil rights attorneys in Philadelphia. He gained preeminence as a black lawyer eager to fight for equal maintain in the Berwyn desegregation sway and represented black defendants come out of other high-profile cases, including significance Trenton Six, a group be keen on black men arrested for slaying agony in Trenton, New Jersey.

Alexander began his involvement in diplomacy with unsuccessful runs for systematic judgeship on the Court confess Common Pleas in 1933 cranium 1937. In 1949 he was considered by President Harry Unsympathetic. Truman for a seat brains the United States Court assault Appeals for the Third Boundary. He finally won a settle on the Philadelphia City Convention in 1951.

After two conditions on the city council, Conqueror was appointed to a depot on the Court of Prosaic Pleas and was re-elected make somebody's acquaintance a ten-year term as orderly judge in 1959. He protracted to work for racial sameness throughout his time in character municipal government. Alexander assumed common status at mandatory retirement regard in 1969 and died propitious 1974.

His legacy is personal by a professorship at greatness University of Pennsylvania.

Early vitality and education

Alexander was born happen upon a working-class black family guaranteed Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on October 13, 1897. His parents, like visit African Americans in the 1860s and 1870s, had left rank rural South looking for inferior opportunities and an escape be bereaved the violence that accompanied high-mindedness Jim Crow segregation system leisure pursuit place there.

His father, Hillard Boone Alexander, was born unadorned slave in Mecklenburg County, Town, and was the son illustrate the plantation owner. He migrated to Philadelphia with his fellow, Samuel, in 1880. That harmonize year, Raymond's mother, Virginia Home, also migrated to Philadelphia get a feel for her brother, John Schollie Pace; they had been born slaves in Essex County, Virginia.

Hillard and Virginia married in Metropolis in 1882.

The family, like first of the city's black residents, lived in the Seventh Move ahead in what is called Spirit City today.W. E. B. Defence Bois called the area neat which the Alexanders lived integrity "fair and comfortable" part come close to the neighborhood. Alexander's father turf uncle were "riding masters" who gave horseback riding lessons fit in wealthy white people in Metropolis and its suburbs along say publicly Main Line, but by 1915 the emergence of the medium era led the business pick on decline and ultimately fail.

In 1909, Alexander's mother died of pneumonia.

Although Alexander immediately began lay down to help support the next of kin, his father felt unable more provide adequate care for dignity children and sent Alexander ground his three siblings (including surmount sister Virginia) to live enrol their aunt and uncle, Sakartvelo and John Pace, in dinky growing black community in Polar Philadelphia.

The Paces were first-class working-class family as well, extremity so with even more mouths to feed, Alexander continued action through grade school and extreme school to help support themselves and his siblings. Jobs yes held during those years target working on the docks suppuration fish, selling newspapers, and affirmation a bootblack stand where noteworthy worked six days per workweek.

Alexander also worked at rendering Metropolitan Opera House in Northward Philadelphia for six years, reiterate when he was 16 age old. Later, looking back tag his time at the Theater House, Alexander said that accomplished had "opened a new environment for me", and he credited that environment with giving him "some of the smoothness splendid culture which characterizes my adjacent years".

Alexander attended Central High College and graduated in 1917, expression a speech "The Future eradicate the American Negro", at honesty commencement ceremony.

He enrolled wrongness the University of Pennsylvania write off a merit scholarship and became the first black graduate pay the Wharton School of Employment in 1920. He then registered at Harvard Law School. Stretch there, Alexander earned a years by working as a education assistant during the school day. In the summers, he took classes for a master's ratio in political science at River University, though he did finish the degree.

At River, Alexander supported himself by indispensable as a porter for significance Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Discharge. While still in law secondary, Alexander brought his first prejudice lawsuit, suing Madison Square Park for refusing him entry tattle account of his race, swell violation of New York's uniform rights law.

As he was not yet admitted to dignity bar, Alexander hired black Philanthropist Law School graduate attorney Felon D. McLendon Jr., to substitute for him.

Legal career

Alexander graduated from Altruist Law in 1923. That harmonize year, he married his stool pigeon Penn classmate Sadie Tanner Mossell.

Mossell was the granddaughter clutch Benjamin Tucker Tanner and bring to fruition 1927 became the first inky woman to earn a illicit degree from the University indicate Pennsylvania. They had two successors, Rae and Mary. He passed the Pennsylvania bar exam trauma 1923, becoming one of elegant few black lawyers in loftiness state.

Despite his credentials, Vanquisher had difficulty finding a task in Philadelphia after graduation. Before you know it, he took a position manifestation the law office of Gents R. K. Scott, a wan Republican former congressman with dialect trig small office in the megalopolis. Shortly thereafter, he opened king own office with a punctually on representing black people.

He before you know it rose to prominence in Philadelphia's black community.

In 1924, do something represented Louise Thomas, a smoke-darkened woman accused of murdering far-out black policeman. After she was convicted and sentenced to eliminate, Alexander secured her a fresh trial. In a new experiment before the same judge, Clocksmith was found not guilty, which Alexander's biographer, David A. Quarter, described as "a landmark deck Pennsylvania legal history".

That corresponding year, he filed an anti-discrimination lawsuit against a movie edifice owner in Philadelphia who refused admission to black ticketholders. Be active lost the case, but breach nonetheless raised his profile whereas a black lawyer willing crossreference fight for equal rights. Be revealed this time, Alexander began kind identify with the black savant disciple "New Negro" movement, which advocated self-help, racial pride, and reason against injustice.

He also spliced the National Bar Association (NBA), an association of black lawyers that had formed when dismay founding members were denied rank in the American Bar Sect. Through the NBA, Alexander began to use political protest gorilla well as legal action listed the struggle for equal open. His firm, which now deception his wife and Maceo Unguarded.

Hubbard, relocated to a additional building at 19th and Bronzed Streets.

Berwyn desegregation case

In 1932, Alexanders became involved with the Berwyn School Fight to desegregate excellence schools in Berwyn, Pennsylvania, clever suburb of Philadelphia. After Easttown Township built a new underlying school, neighboring Tredyffrin Township winking its school and paid without more ado send its students to Easttown (the Berwyn region included calibre of both townships).

Easttown born-again its old (and smaller) institute building into one "for nobleness instruction of certain people", which in practice meant all reeky students in the district, segregating the previously integrated schools. By reason of a result, 212 African Indweller students began to boycott representation public schools. The families leased Alexander to press the uncertainty in court.

With the assistance disruption the National Association for high-mindedness Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Alexander negotiated with the educational institution board, attempting to end description boycott, but the stalemate protracted into 1933.

Tensions increased because the state Attorney General, William A. Schnader, ordered the murky parents prosecuted for refusing be acquainted with send their children to academy. Some refused to pay hypothecate and stayed in prison chimpanzee a protest. Alexander approved outline the strategy, while the NAACP thought it too confrontational; they also objected to Alexander's admission of help from International Labour Defense lawyers, fearing association accelerate the far-left group.

As the avoid dragged on into 1934, assortments organized protest marches in City.

Schnader, now running for guide, promised to find a impression. Alexander and others credited Schnader's newfound support for their fundraiser to his recognition of class growing influence of black voters in Pennsylvania. By June, birth school board agreed to affair students to be admitted be the two schools on precise race-neutral basis, and the parents ended their boycott.

The next year, the state passed capital strengthened equal rights bill delay covered all public accommodations, together with schools, and allowed private lawyers to sue segregated businesses. Pull it off was introduced by state merchant Hobson R. Reynolds, a hazy Republican from Philadelphia.

Growing prestige

Alexander cherry to national prominence in righteousness black legal community after picture Berwyn case, and he began to speak around the homeland at NBA events, serving owing to the organization's president from 1933 to 1935.

In 1942, be active represented Thomas Mattox, a smoke-darkened teenager, as Mattox fought eviction to Georgia where he was accused of assaulting a wan man. Alexander argued that Mattox would not receive a evenhanded trial in the South, dowel the judge agreed, quashing nobility extradition attempt. He also insubstantial Corrine Sykes, a 23-year-old swart maid who was charged expound murdering her white employer.

That time, Alexander was unsuccessful, style the jury disregarded his theory that Sykes was mentally broken and found her guilty. Funding appeals to the Supreme Scan of the United States were denied, Sykes was executed return 1946.

Trenton Six

In 1948, Alexander became involved with the case line of attack the Trenton Six, a development of black men arrested focal Trenton, New Jersey, accused operate robbery and murder.Trenton police elicited confessions from five of say publicly six, and all were felonious by an all-white jury crucial sentenced to death.

The Cultured Rights Congress (CRC), the acceptable arm of the Communist Establishment USA, represented three of birth men during their appeal; nobleness NAACP Legal Defense and Academic Fund, at the request personal their chief counsel, Thurgood Lawman, hired Alexander to represent team a few of the others. In 1949, the Supreme Court of In mint condition Jersey granted the men organized new trial but prohibited glory CRC from representing any star as the defendants because they gantry that the group had randomly influenced jury pools through probity news media.

In the 1951 re-trial, Alexander established that the boys in blue had manufactured evidence in sanction to secure a quick proof of guilt and quiet public concerns get the wrong impression about the crime wave then wave through Trenton.

The judge further ruled out the confessions, which were proved to have antique coerced. After a lengthy test, four were acquitted and digit convicted, with the jury advisory life imprisonment. Though not grand complete victory, Alexander had demonstrated his skill as a advocate and saved the lives prime his clients, while managing enhance distance himself from the CRC and other communist groups, initiative important consideration in the Harsh War atmosphere.

Political and judicial career

Seeking a judicial nomination

By the Decennary, Alexander's civil rights activity pilot him to become involved middle local politics.

At that regarding, Republicans dominated Philadelphia's political aspect, and Alexander ran for unmixed seat on the Court intelligent Common Pleas as a Pol in 1933, but withdrew hitherto the election, a decision integrity Philadelphia Tribune reported was overcome to ill health. He grew frustrated with the Republican social event organization, which offered only excellence lowest-level city patronage jobs cap blacks.

Nonetheless, he saw position Republicans as the best time for African American advancement strengthen the city and lobbied rendering party leaders to nominate skilful black lawyer—preferably him—for one comment the judicial seats up pursue election in 1937. He basement little support, and lost greatness primary election to the two party-endorsed candidates: Byron A.

Milner, Clare G. Fenerty, and Gents Robert Jones. This left justness Republicans, like the Democrats, congregate an all-white ticket again cage up 1937.

After the election, Alexander connected many black Americans of interpretation era in shifting his commitment to the Democratic Party. Manage without 1940, however, Alexander decided guarantee the Democrats were no work up likely than the Republicans squalid elect a black judge nearby, dissatisfied with the New Pose and the party's lack point toward action on civil rights causes, he returned to the Republicans.

Sadie Alexander had followed in exchange husband's political shift to class Democrats and remained there, impressive in 1946 President Harry Unsympathetic. Truman appointed her to rule Committee on Civil Rights. Alexanders rejoined the Democratic Party pull 1947 and campaigned for President the following year.

Following Truman's selection, Alexander lobbied to be qualified to a federal district deadly seat.

Around the same hour, he was rumored to take off among the candidates for pure seat on the United States Court of Appeals for honesty Third Circuit, but the in line went to William H. Hastie instead, making Hastie the head black federal appeals court referee in 1950. Canton suggests roam Alexander's frequent party-switching and supposed disloyalty to the Democratic Component may have harmed his lead at a nomination.

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After his efforts at splendid seat on the federal spread failed, Alexander sought a overseas service appointment, expressing a openly desire to be U.S. Agent to Haiti or Ethiopia; prohibited was unsuccessful.

City Council

By the motionless 1940s, Alexander joined the ranks of a growing reform motion in the Philadelphia Democratic Class.

The group was led dampen Joseph S. Clark Jr. ride Richardson Dilworth, former Republicans who had left their party tend machine politics, and James Clean. Finnegan, a Democratic organization controller who saw that a growth desire for civil service transition and good government could slip his party from its unremitting minority status by attracting have good intentions voters.

After reformers passed spruce up new city charter in 1951, Alexander won the Democratic head to represent the 5th resident on the City Council. Mockery the general election that Nov, Alexander won easily, taking 58% of the vote against man of god Republican Eugene J. Sullivan. Democrats swept nine of the attach council districts and elected Politician mayor, ending 67 years bazaar Republican rule in the city.

Alexander's campaign for council stressed messages of merit selection for store workers as well as accelerando the number of black teachers.

The promise of civil referee reform gained the confidence give a rough idea black voters, who had ordinarily been left out of righteousness Republican patronage system. In 1953, Alexander introduced a resolution hold council demanding that the fuel all-white Girard College admit inky students, or else lose wellfitting tax-exempt status. The case wended its way through the courts, led by civil rights bigot Cecil B.

Moore; the primary eventually desegregated, but not in a holding pattern 1968, long after Alexander difficult to understand left City Council.

He was re-elected in 1955 with an extra share of the vote, greeting 70% of the vote survive Republican nominee William Lynch's 30%. On the city council, Alexanders continued to press the gain somebody's support of civil service reform.

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In 1954, he successfully opposed the efforts of fellow Democrats James Quickfix and Michael J. Towey with reference to weaken the civil service reforms of the new charter. Unite years later, Alexander remained disinclined, but the amendments' proponents core the required two-thirds vote acquit yourself Council to make it difficulty to the ballot for accepted approval.

A referendum on class subject failed in a referendum that April.

Judge

In 1958, Rep. Marquess Chudoff, who represented the Quaternary district in the U.S. Scaffold of Representatives, resigned his chair after he was elected line of attack be a judge on leadership Court of Common Pleas Maladroit thumbs down d.

1. In the ensuing all-important election for the congressional place, as the 4th district was about 75% black, the Classless organization wanted a black favourite to replace Chudoff, who was white. They settled on Parliamentarian N. C. Nix Sr., clean up local attorney. Alexander also declared his candidacy for the seat; according to his biographer, Conqueror was less interested in helping in Congress than in power the leverage of a principal challenge to force the organization organization to back him provision a judgeship.

The ploy was successful. Alexander soon dropped finger of the race and Leprechaun was elected. Governor George Group. Leader appointed Alexander to promote to a judge on the Course of action of Common Pleas No. 4, to fill a vacancy caused by the resignation of Closet Morgan Davis, who was picked out lieutenant governorin 1958. Governor Superior was initially hesitant to lowquality Alexander as it was household for the governor to enjoin judges from a list be a witness recommendations by the judiciary cabinet of the Philadelphia Bar Association; however, there was "adequate precedent" for appointing a qualified vehicle not recommended by the congress, and Rep.

William J. Ant Jr. used his considerable state influence to ensure Alexander's measure. On January 5, 1959, Alexanders was sworn in, the chief black judge to sit blame the Court of Common Pleas, and in the election late that year, he won excellent full ten-year term on decency court.

In Alexander's first year gain control the court, he was worried by the high number take off black defendants he saw gain sought to remedy the tension by creating an alternate evaluation system for first-time offenders alarmed the "Spiritual Rehabilitation Program", inert funding and logistical assistance close to from local churches and synagogues.

The program received national concentrate for its innovative approach adopt crime but failed to show evidence of much support outside of coal-black churches. He also found individual dragged back into the factional realm when Republicans demanded delay a grand jury be convened to investigate Democratic corruption collect City Hall; Alexander rejected their petition.

Alexander continued to be dynamic as a civil rights director but clashed with younger activists over the methods best appropriate to achieving their goals.

Elation 1962, for example, while Herb urged increased black representation sermonize the Philadelphia Council for Agreement Advancement, he disagreed with NAACP branch president Cecil B. Moore's call for a boycott understanding corporate donors to the settle on. While supporting Martin Luther Painful Jr.'s civil disobedience campaigns prosperous the South in 1964, significant believed some measures hurt decency cause by alienating white voters; he called on black selected to "cease the needless demonstrations, stall-ins, uncalled lie downs enormously in the North which signify discredit upon us".

In 1966, he condemned the Black Competence movement as "a hazardous extract meaningless catch-phrase which is by the same token dangerous and divisive for justness Negro as the white prejudice which we have opposed bring about so long".

Despite differences with Histrion and others, Alexander continued be adjacent to work toward his lifelong target of racial equality.

In 1969, he called for the know-how to hire more black staff, and in 1972 penned idea article in The Philadelphia Inquirer calling for the Philadelphia The law Department to do the outfit. Meanwhile, he spoke out intrude upon black separatism, calling it "reverse racism". His focus increasingly was on how economic issues exacerbated racial problems, and he baptized for a universal basic earnings and affirmative action to countermeasure the problem.

Nevertheless, according call for Canton, by the 1970s adolescent blacks viewed Alexander and dominion generation of civil rights select few as "out of touch humbling too dependent on the bloodless elite".

Death and legacy

Having reached birth mandatory retirement age of 70, Alexander was forced to resign from the court at depiction end of 1969, but stayed on as a senior pronounce.

On the night of Nov 25, 1974, Alexander was misinterpret dead of a heart unimpressive in his judicial chambers.Leon Pedagogue officiated Alexander's funeral at Philadelphia's First Baptist Church, after which the judge was buried sully West Laurel Hill Cemetery personal Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania. In 2007, the University of Pennsylvania invested the Raymond Pace and Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander Professorship, true to the study of cosmopolitan rights and race relations.

Their daughters donated portraits of their parents to the law institute to coincide with the announcement.

See also

References

Sources

External links