Aaron Alpeoria Bradley facts for kids

Aaron Alpeoria Bradley (born around 1815, died 1881) was an amazing American lawyer and activist. He was born into slavery but bravely escaped. He became one of the first African American lawyers in the United States. After the American Civil War, he moved to Georgia.

Even though he faced challenges practicing law in Georgia, he became a powerful political activist. He worked as a lawyer from South Carolina during the Reconstruction Era. This was a time after the Civil War when the country was rebuilding. In 1865, he was even arrested because of his strong political work.

Bradley was chosen as a representative for Georgia's Constitutional Convention in 1867. This was a big meeting to write new rules for the state. He spoke out against segregation, which is the unfair separation of people based on race. He also criticized police brutality and certain parts of capitalism. He always worked hard for equal rights for everyone. He wasn't afraid to speak his mind against powerful groups.

Bradley never told anyone his exact age, but people think he was born around 1815. He was born on a large farm in South Carolina. He escaped to Boston in the 1830s. He became one of the very first Black lawyers in the U.S. He was one of only a few African Americans allowed to practice law before the Civil War. Other early Black lawyers included Robert Morris (lawyer) in Massachusetts (1847), George Boyer Vashon in New York (1848), and John Mercer Langston in Ohio (1854).

Aaron Bradley was a very skilled lawyer. For a short time, he also ran a shoe store in Augusta, Georgia.

Becoming a Lawyer

In 1856, Aaron Bradley became the third African American to be allowed to practice law in Massachusetts. He moved to Savannah, Georgia, in 1865. In 1867, he tried to get permission to practice law in the U.S. District Court in Georgia.

During the Reconstruction Era, some people from the North moved to the South. They were sometimes called "carpetbaggers" in a mean way. Because of the unfair treatment of Black people at that time, and because Bradley was so outspoken against racial injustice, he was not allowed to practice law in Georgia. The judge said Bradley didn't know enough about law and wasn't "moral" or "smart" enough.

Even though he tried many times, Bradley was never officially allowed to practice law in Georgia. But he was determined! He practiced law in Georgia without a license until 1875. Later, he moved to Beaufort, South Carolina. There, he continued to practice law and help his clients from Georgia.

Fighting for Rights

Aaron Bradley was brave and always challenged unfair rules. He saw himself as a champion for all Black people. He worked with Black churches and even opened a school. He started pushing for Black people to have the right to vote. He joined campaigns to help people get this important right.

He accused the city police and the mayor's court of treating Black people unfairly. He also said that the Freedmen's Bureau Court in Savannah had problems. This court was set up to help formerly enslaved people. Bradley even offered to be a judge to help fix things.

His name is on a special historical marker called the "Original 33". This plaque lists the first 33 African American members of the Georgia General Assembly. They were chosen for office in 1868.