Julius Chambers, pioneering civil rights attorney, 1936-2013
August 4, 2013 4:52 AM Subscribe
Julius Chambers forever changed public education in the United States (and through it, American society) Although his biography includes a storied law career, being president of the North Carolina NAACP, and being president of North Carolina Central University, Julius Chambers is best known for arguing the Supreme Court case Swann v Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education which led to busing for integration first in Charlotte and then in school districts throughout the country. This federal ruling stated that it was not sufficient to remove laws requiring segregation but rather policies must be implemented to actively integrate public schools.
Over the years, his enemies set his law office on fire, bombed his Charlotte home and his car. They also torched his father’s shop in his hometown of Mount Gilead.
“I’m not sure Chambers ever stopped practicing law,” Ferguson said. “We think he didn’t practice law when he was in the hospital. But if he wasn’t actively practicing, he was concerning himself with people whose rights were being trampled.
Swann v Board was overturned by a lower court in the Belk v Board(pdf) case in 2003, which ruled that integration has been achieved. Since then, research shows that the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools have resegregated , following a similar pattern throughout the US.
Over the years, his enemies set his law office on fire, bombed his Charlotte home and his car. They also torched his father’s shop in his hometown of Mount Gilead.
“I’m not sure Chambers ever stopped practicing law,” Ferguson said. “We think he didn’t practice law when he was in the hospital. But if he wasn’t actively practicing, he was concerning himself with people whose rights were being trampled.
Swann v Board was overturned by a lower court in the Belk v Board(pdf) case in 2003, which ruled that integration has been achieved. Since then, research shows that the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools have resegregated , following a similar pattern throughout the US.
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posted by Smart Dalek at 8:20 AM on August 4, 2013
posted by Smart Dalek at 8:20 AM on August 4, 2013
Once Chambers sent Watt to Lumberton in Robeson County to defend protestors charged with resisting arrest and assaulting an officer.
“I get down there,” Watt said, “and I find that these are Native Americans who’d been carrying tomahawks and demonstrating because they didn’t want to go to school with black kids.”
Back in Charlotte, a confused Watt asked Chambers: “Why in the world did you send me to Lumberton to defend people who were against going to school with black kids?”
“Julius never looked up,” Watt recalled. He said, ‘Don’t you believe in the First Amendment? Don’t you believe in free speech?’ ”
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posted by mediareport at 1:05 PM on August 4, 2013 [1 favorite]
“I get down there,” Watt said, “and I find that these are Native Americans who’d been carrying tomahawks and demonstrating because they didn’t want to go to school with black kids.”
Back in Charlotte, a confused Watt asked Chambers: “Why in the world did you send me to Lumberton to defend people who were against going to school with black kids?”
“Julius never looked up,” Watt recalled. He said, ‘Don’t you believe in the First Amendment? Don’t you believe in free speech?’ ”
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posted by mediareport at 1:05 PM on August 4, 2013 [1 favorite]
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posted by oceanjesse at 6:19 PM on August 4, 2013
posted by oceanjesse at 6:19 PM on August 4, 2013
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posted by Lulu's Pink Converse at 6:33 PM on August 4, 2013
posted by Lulu's Pink Converse at 6:33 PM on August 4, 2013
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posted by snuffleupagus at 9:46 PM on August 4, 2013
posted by snuffleupagus at 9:46 PM on August 4, 2013
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posted by klangklangston at 11:02 AM on August 5, 2013
posted by klangklangston at 11:02 AM on August 5, 2013
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posted by allthinky at 4:59 AM on August 4, 2013