Abraham Lincoln Davis facts for kids

Abraham Lincoln Davis Jr. (1914 – June 24, 1978) was an important American minister. He was also a strong leader in the Civil Rights Movement. This movement worked for equal rights for all people. Davis helped many people register to vote. He also pushed for desegregation in New Orleans, Louisiana. Desegregation meant ending the separation of people by race. In 1975, Davis made history. He became the first African American on the New Orleans City Council. This was the first time since the Reconstruction era. The Reconstruction era was a time after the American Civil War.

Early Life and Calling

Abraham Lincoln Davis Jr. grew up in Bayou Goula, Louisiana. His father was also a Baptist minister. Young Davis later moved to New Orleans. There, he graduated from McDonogh 35 High School.

In 1935, he became a minister himself. He began leading the New Zion Baptist Church in New Orleans. He continued his education too. In 1949, he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Leland College. He also received an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree. This was from the Union Baptist Theological Seminary.

Fighting for Civil Rights

Davis became deeply involved in the Civil Rights Movement. In January 1957, he helped start a very important group. It was called the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). He cofounded it with Martin Luther King Jr. and other leaders. They met in Davis's church. Martin Luther King Jr. was the president of the SCLC. Davis served as its vice president.

In March 1957, a local group was formed. It was called the Louisiana Leadership Conference. This group was connected to the SCLC. Davis and T. J. Jemison were chosen to lead it. They worked together to help African Americans register to vote. This was a big step for equal rights.

Davis also got involved in politics. He supported leaders like DeLesseps Story Morrison. Morrison was the mayor of New Orleans. Davis also supported Robert F. Kennon, who was the Governor. He also supported Hale Boggs, a Congressman. Davis did not agree with Governor Earl Long. He led a group of Democrats who opposed Long.

In 1961, Mayor Morrison gave Davis an important job. He made Davis the first director of race relations for the city. Later, Governor John McKeithen also appointed Davis. He put him on a committee that worked on race relations.

Mayor Victor H. Schiro took over after Morrison. Schiro was slow to support desegregation. So, Davis organized a large march. On September 30, 1963, between 7,000 and 10,000 people marched. They went to city hall. A few days later, Davis presented a list of demands. He gave them to the New Orleans City Council.

Davis and Reverend Avery Alexander were arrested in November 1963. This happened during a sit-in at city hall. A sit-in is a peaceful protest where people sit and refuse to leave. Davis kept organizing sit-ins. People protested in the city hall cafeteria. They also protested outside the mayor's office. People were arrested every day. The protests stopped after 47 people were arrested. This included members of the Congress of Racial Equality. After this, Davis and Alexander finally met with Mayor Schiro. They made some progress on their demands. But they did not win on all of them.

A Leader in Politics

In 1967, Davis decided to run for office. He ran for the Louisiana House of Representatives. He went to a special runoff election in December. He lost to Eugene O'Brien by a very small number of votes. Davis received 4,324 votes. O'Brien received 4,442 votes.

In 1975, a spot opened on the New Orleans City Council. This was for District B. The person who held the seat, Eddie Sapir, resigned. Davis and Jim Singleton were considered for the job. Davis won the appointment. The council voted 6 to 1 for him. This made him the first African American to serve on the New Orleans City Council. This was a major event since the Reconstruction era.

Davis won a special election in October 1976. This was to finish Sapir's term. But in the 1977 election, he lost. Jim Singleton won the election for a new term.

Personal Life

Abraham Lincoln Davis Jr. had a daughter. He passed away on June 24, 1978.