Althea T. L. Simmons facts for kids

Althea T. L. Simmons (April 17, 1924 - September 13, 1990) was an amazing American lawyer and civil rights activist. She spent over 35 years working for the NAACP. This group works to make sure all people have equal rights. Althea was in charge of the NAACP's office in Washington D.C. She was also their main lobbyist from 1979 to 1990. A lobbyist talks to lawmakers to influence new laws. Althea was known for being very good at her job. She watched how lawmakers voted and had a strong presence. She passed away at age 66.

Early Life and Education

Althea Simmons was born in Shreveport, Louisiana. As a teenager, she lived with her family in Winnsboro, Louisiana. She went to college at Southern University in Baton Rouge. This is a historically Black university. Althea then earned a law degree from Howard University. She also studied marketing at the University of Illinois.

A Career for Civil Rights

Althea Simmons joined the NAACP in the mid-1950s. She worked in many different roles. In 1961, she joined the NAACP's West Coast team. There, she focused on helping people register to vote. Later, in New York, she helped manage local branches. She was also the National Education Director and National Training Director. She led special drives to help more people register to vote.

Leading the NAACP in Washington D.C.

From 1979 to 1990, Althea Simmons was the chief lobbyist for the NAACP in Washington D.C. This meant she worked to influence federal laws about civil rights. She helped pass an important update to the Voting Rights Act in 1982. This law helps protect everyone's right to vote.

Althea also worked hard to make Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday a national holiday. She believed this holiday would help people learn more about civil rights. She also pushed for laws that would put limits on South Africa. This was because of apartheid, a system of unfair racial separation there.

Watching Lawmakers Closely

Althea Simmons was very good at keeping an eye on how lawmakers voted. She once said, "It's not enough to just listen to the politicians at election time. Start monitoring how they vote." She knew that sometimes politicians say one thing but vote another way. She made sure the NAACP knew how elected officials truly acted.

Althea even argued against William Rehnquist becoming the Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court. She believed he had acted against the voting rights of African Americans and Latinos in the past. She said that even smart people need compassion. Without it, they might not see things clearly or be fair.

Her Last Efforts

Even when she was in the hospital before she passed away, Althea kept working. She helped lobby for the Civil Rights Act of 1990. This important law was passed by the United States Congress. However, it was stopped by then-President of the United States George H. W. Bush about a month after her death.

Just four days after she passed, U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy honored Althea. He called her the "101st Senator on civil rights." He said she was a "great champion" in the fight for equal justice for everyone.

Personal Life and Honors

Althea Simmons was an active member of the Asbury United Methodist Church in Washington D.C. She also served on a committee for the United Methodist Church. She was a member of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority. This group later named its Social Action Award after her. People who have received this award include Hazel N. Dukes and Melanie L. Campbell, who are also civil rights leaders.

Selected Honors

• President's Award of Washburn University
• Howard University Alumni Award for Postgraduate Achievement in Law and Public Service
• Gertrude E. Rush Award of the National Bar Association
• Patricia Roberts Harris Award of Delta Sigma Theta sorority

Selected Publications

Althea Simmons also wrote articles about civil rights and education. Here are a few:

• Althea T. L. Simmons. From Brown to Detroit: Blueprint for Education, Theory Into Practice, vol. 17, no. 1, 1978, pp. 67–71
• Althea T. L. Simmons. Review of Maggie's American Dream, The Journal of Negro Education, vol. 59, no. 2, 1990, pp. 220–222
• Althea T. L. Simmons. Civil Rights and Reaganomics, The Crisis, vol. 91, no. 4, 1984, pp. 8–10