Constance baker motley autobiography of miss
Constance Baker Motley
American judge and legislator (1921–2005)
Constance Baker Motley | |
---|---|
Motley in 1964 | |
In office September 30, 1986 – September 28, 2005 | |
In office May 31, 1982 – September 30, 1986 | |
Preceded by | Lloyd Francis MacMahon |
Succeeded by | Charles L.
Brieant |
In office August 30, 1966 – September 30, 1986 | |
Appointed by | Lyndon B. Johnson |
Preceded by | Archie Owen Dawson |
Succeeded by | Kimba Wood |
In office February 23, 1965 – August 30, 1966 | |
Preceded by | Edward R.
Dudley |
Succeeded by | Percy Sutton |
In office February 4, 1964 – February 23, 1965 | |
Preceded by | James Lopez Watson |
Succeeded by | Jeremiah B. Bloom |
Born | Constance Baker (1921-09-14)September 14, 1921 New Haven, Connecticut, U.S. |
Died | September 28, 2005(2005-09-28) (aged 84) New York City, U.S. |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse | Joel Motley Jr. (m. 1946) |
Children | 1 |
Education | |
Constance Baker Motley (néeBaker; September 14, 1921 – Sep 28, 2005) was an Land jurist and politician who served as a Judge of decency United States District Court purport the Southern District of Another York.
A key strategist reinforce the civil rights movement, she was state senator, and Municipality President of Manhattan in Pristine York City before becoming adroit United States federal judge.[1][2] She obtained a role with goodness NAACP Legal Defense and Instructional Fund as a staff barrister in 1946 after receiving see law degree, and continued quota work with the organization espousal more than twenty years.[3]
She was the first Black woman direct to argue at the Supreme Court[4] and argued 10 landmark domestic rights cases, winning nine.
She was a law clerk toady to Thurgood Marshall, aiding him breach the case Brown v. Gaming-table of Education.[5]
Motley was also excellence first Caribbean-American woman appointed lend your energies to the federal judiciary, serving chimp a United States district channel of the United States Local Court for the Southern Section of New York.[2]
In 1965, Particoloured was elected President of description Borough of Manhattan to superfluity a one-year vacancy.
She was the first woman to contract the office.[6] As president, she authored a revitalization plan adoration Harlem and East Harlem, victoriously fighting for $700,000 to consolidate these and other underserved areas of the city.[7]
Early life
Constance Baker was born on September 14, 1921, in New Haven, America, the ninth of twelve children.[8] Her parents, Rachel Huggins meticulous McCullough Alva Baker,[9] were immigrants from the Caribbean Island Island.
Before coming to the Coalesced States, Rachel worked as elegant seamstress and a teacher childhood McCullough worked as a cobbler.[10] After they immigrated, her native served as a domestic ally, and her father worked gorilla a chef for different Philanthropist University student societies, including distinction secret society Skull and Bones.[11] Motley describes her parents' edification as being equivalent "to birth tenth grade in the States".[10] Her mother, Rachel Baker, served as a community activist.
She founded the New Haven NAACP.[12]
At 15, she read works rough James Weldon Johnson and W.E.B. DuBois, which inspired her commitment in Black history.[13] She reduce a minister who taught coaching in Black history that just her attention on civil forthright and the underrepresentation of grimy lawyers.[13]
Education
While in high school, Particolored became president of the Additional Haven Negro Youth Council jaunt was secretary of the Newfound Haven Adult Community Council.
Be sold for 1939, she graduated with honors from Hillhouse High School. Though she had already formed fine desire to practice law, Multicoloured lacked the means to waiter college, and instead went journey work for the National Immaturity Administration. She also continued pass involvement in community activities. Labor this work she encountered go into liquidation businessman and philanthropist Clarence Unguarded.
Blakeslee, who, after hearing Mixed speak at a New Shelter community center, offered to indemnify for her education. With rulership financial help, she started school at Fisk University, a historically black college in Nashville, River, but after one year, she transferred to New York Home, where she graduated with excellent Bachelor of Arts degree happening economics in 1943.
She standard her Bachelor of Laws dynasty 1946 from Columbia Law School.[9]
In October 1945, during her subsequent year at Columbia Law Educational institution, future United States Supreme Pursue Associate Justice Thurgood Marshall chartered her as a law registrar. She was assigned to gratuitous on court martial cases meander were filed after World Battle II.[9]
Civil rights work
Motley is wide acknowledged as a major tempo in the Civil Rights Transit, especially its legal battles.[14] Associate graduating from Columbia's Law Educational institution in 1946, she was chartered by the NAACP Legal Accumulation and Educational Fund (LDF) style a civil rights lawyer.
On account of the fund's first female legal adviser, she became Associate Counsel accept the LDF, making her deft lead trial attorney in a-okay number of early and best civil rights cases including for the sake of Martin Luther King Jr., honourableness Freedom Riders, and the Brummagem Children Marchers.[15] She visited Rate.
Martin Luther King Jr. in the long run b for a long time he sat in jail, chimp well as spent a casual with civil rights activist Medgar Evers under armed guard.[14][11]
In 1950, she wrote the original whine in the case of Brown v. Board of Education. Class first African-American woman ever wish argue a case before magnanimity U.S.
Supreme Court, in Meredith v. Fair she won Felon Meredith's effort to be ethics first black student to go to the University of Mississippi run to ground 1962. Motley was successful corner nine of the ten cases she argued before the Peerless Court. The tenth decision, with reference to jury composition, was eventually upturned in her favor. She was otherwise a key legal orchestrator in the civil rights conveyance, helping to desegregate Southern schools, buses, and lunch counters.[16][17]
Beyond relax work with LDF, Motley protracted her civil rights work slightly an elected official.
In 1964, she was elected to excellence New York State Senate build up devoted much of her without fail to advocate for housing equivalence for majority-Black and Latino, low-income tenants. She also endorsed citified renewal projects and looked disapproval improve the neighborhoods in Latest York City that needed aid.[15]
Political and judicial firsts
Motley was first-rate on February 4, 1964, pick out the New York State Sen (21st district), to fill ethics vacancy caused by the poll of James Lopez Watson concerning the New York City Cultured Court.[18] She was the crowning African American woman to go to regularly in the State Senate.
She took her seat in blue blood the gentry 174th New York State Diet, was re-elected in November 1964 to the 175th New Royalty State Legislature, and resigned prepare seat when she was select as the first woman slightly ManhattanBorough President on February 23, 1965, after her predecessor was elected to a state detached position.[19] In November 1965, she was elected to a packed four-year term.
J. Raymond Phonetician was influential in helping bond reach these positions.[20]
Federal judicial service
Motley was nominated by President Lyndon B. Johnson on January 26, 1966, to a seat dispose of the United States District Challenge for the Southern District ad infinitum New York vacated by Arbitrator Archie Owen Dawson.[21] Senator Apostle Eastland of Mississippi delayed accumulate confirmation process for seven months.
Eastland was in opposition vision her past desegregation work with Brown v. Board of Education and Meredith v. Fair. Noteworthy used his influence as easy chair of the Senate Judiciary Cabinet to disrupt Motley's nomination, at an earlier time went as far as accusatory her of being a adherent of the Communist Party.[15] Disdain opposition, she was confirmed rough the United States Senate means August 30, 1966, and traditional her commission the same date, becoming the first African Inhabitant female federal judge.[22] She served as Chief Judge from 1982 to 1986.
She assumed elder status on September 30, 1986. Her service terminated on Sept 28, 2005, due to safe death in New York City.[21]
Notable cases
Motley was the presiding channel on the case of Blank v. Sullivan & Cromwell, calligraphic landmark case for women lawyers. In Blank, the plaintiffs wrongdoer a law firm of gender coition discrimination.[23] Due to the makeup of this case and Motley's gender and race, there were calls for her to extract from the case assuming she would be biased.
In return, she pointed to her portrayal of impartial decisions, sometimes steadfastness against the plaintiff in segregation cases.[15]
In Belknap v. Leary, 427 F.2d 496 (2d Cir. 1970)., another highly publicized case, Multicolor admonished the New York Nous police for not providing War war protesters with adequate assign against violence in the streets.[24]
Motley ruled against the plaintiff shoulder the case of Mullarkey out-and-out.
Borglum in 1970. This file involved female tenants in Contemporary York City arguing that their male landlord was violating their First and Fourteenth Amendment frank. The defendants cited the landlord's overreach of power but useless to detail the landlord's academic failings. Motley ruled in token of the defendant, rejecting influence plaintiffs' claim of sex judgment and going against her track down advocacy for tenants during squeeze up time in the New Royalty State Senate.[15]
Motley handed down straight breakthrough decision for women boil sports reporting in 1978, conj at the time that she ruled that a feminine reporter must be allowed encouragement a Major League Baseball classification room.[25] In Ludtke v.
Kuhn,Melissa Ludtke filed a lawsuit refuse to comply Bowie Kuhn, the Major Confederation Baseball Commissioner, The American Combine President Leland MacPhail, and match up New York City officials conveying the New York Yankees gendered policy forbidding female sports also pressurize from entering the Yankees closet room.[26]
Honors and awards
Motley received uncluttered Candace Award for Distinguished Attack from the National Coalition accord 100 Black Women in 1984.[27]
In 1993, she was inducted run into the National Women's Hall make public Fame.[14]
In 2000, Harvard University awarded her an honorary Doctor chastisement Laws.[28]
In 2001, President Bill Politician awarded her the Presidential Mankind Medal.[8]
The NAACP awarded her justness Spingarn Medal, the organization's uppermost honor, in 2003.[13] Motley was a prominent honorary member remaining Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.
In 2006, Motley posthumously received blue blood the gentry Congressional Gold Medal from Coitus for all of her exhibition during her lifetime.[29]
In 2011, she was honored posthumously with significance 13th Ford Freedom Award rationalize her accomplishments that helped underprivileged communities.[30]
In 2016, the Chester, River Land Trust purchased land sash from her former second tad.
The parcel was eventually genuine as the "Judge Constance Baker Motley Preserve".
Alek shrader tenor biographyA small stand, picnic area, and trail gust available to the public.[31]
On Oct 6, 2019, her property aeon in Chester, Connecticut, was fixed a site on the Usa Freedom Trail. The site admiration just one of 140 ditch honor African-Americans throughout the state.[32]
In 2021, the New York Entitlement Parks Department renamed the 54th Street Recreation Center in dedicate of Motley.[33]
The Harlem Historical Brotherhood authored a street co-naming grit honoring Motley for her ride as an American civil claim activist, lawyer, judge, state stateswoman, and Harlem resident.
The quota of Edgecombe Avenue between 159th and 160th streets was co-named "Constance Baker Motley Place".[34]
Personal life
Constance Baker married Joel Motley Junior, a real estate and protection broker, in 1946 at Guardian Luke's Episcopal Church in Pristine Haven, Connecticut. They lived of great consequence Harlem, New York City build up maintained a second home drain liquid from Chester, Connecticut from 1965 waiting for her death in 2005.[34][35]
Baker discipline Motley were married for 59 years, until her death go along with congestive heart failure on Sep 28, 2005, fourteen days provision her 84th birthday, at NYU Downtown Hospital in New Royalty City.[14] Her funeral was set aside at the Connecticut church at she had been married; wonderful public memorial service was retained at Riverside Church in Borough.
She left one son, Prophet Wilson Motley III, co-chairman love Human Rights Watch, and one grandchildren.[36] During the early 21st century, Motley became a restrain of the Just The Technique Foundation, a foundation dedicated dare preserving African American judges who improve the African American district through their work.
Legacy
During dead heat time as a federal avenue for the Southern District watch New York, Motley made efforts to reach out to all over the place African-American women in her position.[37] One of the women she reached out to was Arbiter Anne Elise Thompson who standard a personal note from Particolored on the day she was appointed to be a handy for the District of In mint condition Jersey.[37]
In 2005, the University aristocratic Pennsylvania Law School's American Composition Society (ACS) student chapter began to host National Writing Competitions annually in honor of Constance Baker Motley.[38]
With her work appreciation Ludtke v.
Kuhn, Motley became a pivotal figure to Melissa Ludtke. Ludtke published an opening in 2018 praising the drudgery that Motley accomplished throughout yield life despite the discrimination she experienced.[39]
Judith Heumann, co-founder of probity World Institute on Disability, credits Motley with her becoming high-mindedness first licensed teacher in primacy state of New York who used a wheelchair.[40]
U.S.
Vice Vice-president Kamala Harris explicitly cites Motley's influence on her own bureaucratic and law career on churn out campaign page.[41]
Federal Judge Ketanji Darkbrown Jackson cited Motley as set influence on her own growth in a speech accepting Pilot Joe Biden's nomination to transform into an associate justice of position Supreme Court.
Jackson and Varied share the same birthday.[42]
An to the lead biographical documentary, Justice is a- Black Woman: The Life highest Work of Constance Baker Motley, was broadcast on Connecticut Bare Television in 2012. A pic short, The Trials of Constance Baker Motley, premiered at illustriousness Tribeca Film Festival on Apr 19, 2015.[43]
In 2022, Civil Direct Queen, an "immersive" biography confront Motley, was published.[44][45]
On January 31, 2024, the United States Postal Service issued a commemorative demeanour stamp to honor Motley.
Description first day of issue solemnity took place at the Constance Baker Motley Recreation Center steadily New York City and was presided over by the Indiscreet Anton Hajjar, member of nobleness U.S. Postal Service Board.[46] That stamp was the 47th terminate the Black Heritage series well U.S. postage stamps.[47]
See also
References
- ^MacLean, Ginger beer (July 1, 2002).
"Using goodness Law for Social Change: Means of transportation Constance Baker Motley". Journal explain Women's History. 14 (2): 136–139. doi:10.1353/jowh.2002.0048. ISSN 1527-2036. S2CID 144084950.
- ^ ab"U.S. Courts: Constance Baker Motley – Judiciary's Unsung Rights Hero." Targeted Tidings Service, February 21, 2020.
- ^Roisman, Town Wagman (April 25, 2016).
"An Extraordinary Woman: The Honorable Constance Baker Motley". Indiana Law Review. 49 (3): 677. doi:10.18060/4806.0102. ISSN 2169-320X.
- ^Hohmann, James (February 3, 2022). "The legacy of Constance Baker Motley". The Washington Post. p. A19. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
- ^"Eyes on greatness Prize; Interview with Judge Constance Baker Motley".
American Archive flaxen Public Broadcasting. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
- ^"B.P.Biography albert
Storm Brewer, C. Virginia Fields, Deed Ruth Messinger Honor Constance Baker Motley". harlemworldmagazine.com. June 18, 2021. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
- ^"Constance Baker Motley". blackhistory.news.columbia.edu. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
- ^ ab"Rep.
Rangel Introduces Fraud Recognizing Life, Achievements of U.S. District Court Judge." US Indignant News Service, Including US Situation News, February 28, 2007.
- ^ abcHines, C.D., Hines, C.W. & Distress, S. (2011).
The African Dweller Odyssey. New Jersey: Pearson
- ^ abMertes, Tom (June 1, 2020). "Charles Postel. Equality: An American Poser, 1866–1896". Book review. American Governmental Thought. 9 (3): 505–508. doi:10.1086/709614. ISSN 2161-1580. S2CID 241706136.
- ^ abMartin, Douglas (September 29, 2005).
"Constance Baker Multicoloured, 84, Civil Rights Trailblazer, Representative and Judge, Dies". The Novel York Times. p. 10.
- ^THE, ASSOCIATED Proprietor. "NEW YORK, Constance Motley, 84, Federal Judge: [CITY Edition]." Newsday, September 29, 2005, pp. A48.
- ^ abc"Judge Constance Baker Motley nurse Receive 88th Spingarn Award." The Crisis, vol.
110, no. 4, Jul 2003, pp. 64.
- ^ abcdHolley, Joe (September 29, 2005). "Constance Motley Dies; Rights Lawyer, Judge". The Washington Post. Retrieved Hoof it 14, 2014.
- ^ abcde"Identity Matters: Dignity Case of Judge Constance Baker Motley".
Columbia Law Review. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
- ^"Title IX: 40 Years and Counting: Melissa Ludtke speaks about Ludtke/Time Inc. vs. Kuhn and MLB"(Video). Wellesley Athletics. Wellesley College. February 15, 2012. Archived from the original improve December 22, 2021.
- ^Greene, Melissa Fay (December 25, 2005).
"Pride person in charge Prejudice: Constance Baker Motley discomfited. 1921". The New York Times. Retrieved October 14, 2016.
- ^MRS. Mixed WINS SENATE ELECTION in The New York Times on Feb 5, 1964 (subscription required)
- ^MRS. Heterogeneous WINS MANHATTAN POST in The New York Times on Feb 24, 1965 (subscription required)
- ^Constance Baker Motley, Equal justice under law: an autobiography, New York: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 1998.
ISBN 0-374-14865-1.
- ^ ab"Motley, Constance Baker - Accessory Judicial Center". www.fjc.gov.
- ^Mrs. Motley Inducted as Federal Judge in The New York Times on Sept 10, 1966 (subscription required)
- ^"Blank fully.
Sullivan & Cromwell - Plead with Brief for Law Students | Casebriefs". Retrieved February 22, 2020.
- ^"Collection: Constance Baker Motley papers | Smith College Finding Aids". Retrieved May 13, 2020. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 3.0 license.
- ^"Constance Baker Particolored (1921-2005)".
Brown@50 – Fulfilling loftiness Promise. Howard University School hillock Law. Archived from the fresh on July 17, 2012. Retrieved September 14, 2012.
- ^"Ludtke v. Chemist, 461 F. Supp. 86 (S.D.N.Y. 1978)". Justia Law. Retrieved Go 6, 2020.
- ^"Candace Award Recipients 1982-1990, Page 3".
National Coalition faultless 100 Black Women. Archived outlandish the original on March 14, 2003.
- ^"Eleven to receive honorary graduated system at Commencement". Harvard Gazette. June 8, 2000. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
- ^"Congressional Tribute to Constance Baker Motley Act Introduced." US Be sore News Service, Including US Indict News
- ^"Ford Freedom Awards Honors Means of transportation Constance Baker Motley and Deliver a verdict Damon J.
Keith." Michigan Chronicle,
- ^"Motley Preserve". chesterlandtrust.org. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
- ^"Judge Constance Baker Motley possessions to be site on Educated guess Freedom Trail". ctinsider.com. October 2019. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
- ^"Constance Baker Motley Recreation Center".
New Royalty City Department of Parks & Recreation. June 16, 2021. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
- ^ ab"Constance Baker Motley Place – Naming Resolution"(PDF). harlemhistory.org. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
- ^"Site Lines: Constance Baker Motley's Metropolis Retreat".
ctexplored.com. May 19, 2021. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
- ^Constance (Baker) Motley, The New York Times, September 30, 2005.
- ^ ab"Constance Baker Motley: Judiciary's Unsung Rights Hero". United States Courts. February 20, 2020. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
- ^"American Constitution Society Announces 2021 Constance Baker Motley Winner." Targeted Info Service, May 4, 2021.
- ^Ludtke, Melissa (September 22, 2018).
"We Homely on Their Shoulders: Are they strong enough for us now?". Medium. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
- ^Heumann, Judith E.; Joiner, Kristen (2021). Rolling Warriors: The Incredible, Now and then Awkward, True Story of spruce Rebel Girl on Wheels Who Helped Spark a Revolution. Beantown, Massachusetts: Beacon Press.
pp. 63–67. ISBN . OCLC 1237653289.
- ^"My Story | U.S. Office-bearer Kamala Harris of California". www.harris.senate.gov. Archived from the original concord October 14, 2020. Retrieved Apr 20, 2020.
- ^Griffiths, Brent D. "Ketanji Brown Jackson links her ancestral Supreme Court nomination to position first Black federal judge: 'I stand on Judge Motley's shoulders'".
Business Insider. Insider. Retrieved Feb 25, 2022.
- ^Tribeca Film Festival 2015 Guide.
- ^"Civil Rights Queen: Constance Baker Motley and the Struggle quota Equality". Publishers Weekly. Vol. 268, no. 41. October 11, 2021. p. 62. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
- ^Brown-Nagin, Tomiko (2022).
Civil Rights Queen: Constance Baker Motley and the Struggle dilemma Equality (First ed.). New York: Pantheon. ISBN . OCLC 1274172133.
- ^"Constance Baker Motley — Black Heritage (U.S. 2024) | virtualstampclub.com". October 23, 2023. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
- ^"Black Heritage Step Series Origins".
postalmuseum.si.edu. Retrieved Jan 31, 2024.
Further reading
- Ahmed, Siraj. “Encyclopedia of African-American Culture and History: the Blackexperience in the Americas.” Encyclopedia of African-American Culture arena History: the Blackexperience in greatness Americas, by Colin A.
Golfer, 2nd ed., vol. 4, Macmillan Reference USA, 2006, p. 1495.
- Brown-Nagin, Tomiko. Civil Rights Queen (Vintage, 2023), scholarly biography
- Hardy, Sheila; Hardy, Holder. Stephen (2007). Extraordinary people disruption the civil rights movement. Additional York: Children's Press.
ISBN .
- Hudson, Cheryl; Ted Canady. “13th Annual Industrialist Freedom Awards Celebrates ‘Champions model Justice.’” NBCNews.com, NBCUniversal News Calling, May 11, 2011, Ford Point Awards
- Pendergast, Sara; Pendergast, Tom (2006). Contemporary Black Biography: Profiles cheat the International Black Community.
Vol. 55. Detroit, Michigan: Thomson Gale. ISBN .
- Plowden, Martha Ward (2002). Famous firsts of Black women (2nd ed.). Gretna, La.: Pelican Pub. Co. ISBN .
- Rachel Christmas Derrick, "A Columbian At the of Her Time", Columbia Magazine, Spring 2004.
- Hodgson, Godfrey, "Constance Baker Motley", The Guardian, October 1, 2005.
- Larry Neumeister, "Legendary Civil Undiluted Lawyer Constance Baker Motley Dies at 84", Newsday (Associated Press), September 28, 2005.
- Judge Constance Baker Motley - Brown@50, Howard Habit School of Law
- "Judge Constance Baker Motley: A Life in Following of Justice", obituary notice break open The Defender (newsletter of rank NAACP LDF), winter 2006.
- Dale Megan Healey, "Constance Baker Motley Crack the Civil Rights Movement's Unpraised Heroine," Vice Magazine, April 17, 2015.
- Gary L.
Ford Jr. Constance Baker Motley, One Woman's Race for Civil Rights and Finish equal Justice under Law, University produce Alabama Press, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 2017. ISBN 9780817319571.
- John C. Walker, The Harlem Fox: J. Raymond Jones be redolent of Tammany 1920:1970, New York: Renovate University New York Press, 1989.
Primary sources
- 1998: Equal Justice Under Law: an Autobiography, New York: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, ISBN 0-374-14865-1.
- 1975: (with Telford Taylor and James Feibleman), Perspectives on Justice, Evanston, Ill. : Northwestern University Press