Anna Langford facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Anna Langford
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Langford, 1971.
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| Chicago Alderman from the 16th Ward | |
| In office February 1983 – January 27, 1991 |
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| Preceded by | Eloise Barden |
| Succeeded by | Shirley Coleman |
| In office February 23, 1971 – February 20, 1975 |
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| Preceded by | Paul Sheridan |
| Succeeded by | Eloise Barden |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Anna Riggs
October 27, 1917 Springfield, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | September 17, 2008 (aged 90) Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic Party |
| Spouses |
Antonio Fambro
(m. 1936; div. 1939)Lawrence R. Langford Sr.
(m. 1947; div. 1971) |
| Children | 1 |
| Alma mater | Hyde Park Academy High School B.A. Roosevelt University John Marshall Law School |
| Occupation |
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Anna R. Langford (born Riggs; October 27, 1917 – September 17, 2008) was an important American politician, civil rights activist, and lawyer. She served on the Chicago City Council in Chicago, Illinois. Langford made history as the first African American woman elected to the Chicago City Council in February 1971. She served three terms on the council, though not all in a row. Anna Langford passed away from lung cancer on September 17, 2008, at her home in the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago. She was 90 years old.
Contents
Biography
Early Life and Education
Anna Langford was born in Springfield, Ohio. Her father, Arthur J. Riggs Jr., was African American, and her mother, Alice Reed, was white. Both of her parents died when she was very young. Her father passed away when she was nine months old, and her mother when she was eight.
A sad event involving her mother's death deeply affected Anna. Her mother was taken to an Ohio hospital for a medical emergency. However, because her children, including Anna, were biracial, the hospital ordered her mother to be moved to a different hospital for African Americans. Anna's mother became much sicker while being moved and did not survive. This experience with racial discrimination inspired Langford's lifelong fight for civil rights.
After her mother's death, Anna was raised by her grandmother. At age thirteen, she moved to Chicago, Illinois, to live with her aunt and uncle. She graduated from Hyde Park High School in 1935. Later, she attended Roosevelt University. She then studied at John Marshall Law School and became a lawyer in 1956.
As a Black woman attorney, she faced challenges finding office space in downtown Chicago. So, she opened her own law practice in the Englewood neighborhood. There, she helped many people from diverse backgrounds who needed legal help.
Career in Politics and Civil Rights
Anna Langford became deeply involved in the Civil Rights Movement. She worked to bring about change both in the Chicago area and across the country. She even volunteered as a lawyer in Mississippi, helping with civil rights efforts there.
In 1966, Langford met with Martin Luther King Jr. in her home. They planned a march in Cicero, Illinois, to promote racial integration in the suburbs. This showed her strong commitment to equal rights.
Langford ran for a seat on the Chicago City Council in 1971. She had tried four years earlier but didn't win. On February 23, 1971, she won and became one of the first two women elected as Chicago aldermen. An alderman is a member of a city council, helping to make laws for the city. She represented the 16th Ward, which included the Englewood neighborhood.
Langford also supported LGBT+ rights. In 1973, she and eight other aldermen supported a bill to prevent discrimination in housing and public places. She also helped pass a Chicago gay rights ordinance in 1989.
Langford lost her re-election in 1975. She tried to win her seat back in 1979 but didn't succeed. However, in 1983, she won again. She was re-elected in 1987 and retired from her seat four years later. From 1988 to 1991, she served as Mayor Pro-Tempore of the Council. This meant she could act as mayor if the actual mayor was absent.
In the early 1980s, Langford encouraged Congressman Harold Washington to run for Mayor of Chicago. She even printed "Langford for Mayor" cards to show she was serious if he didn't run. Her encouragement worked, and Washington ran and won in 1983. After Washington's death in 1987, Langford helped mediate between other mayoral candidates. She supported Eugene Sawyer, who was then elected mayor by the City Council. In her later life, Langford supported Barack Obama's campaign for President of the United States.
Marriage and Family Life
Anna Langford was married twice. Her first marriage was to jazz musician Antonio Fambro from 1936 to 1939. Later, she married Lawrence W. Langford from 1947 until their divorce in 1971. They had one son together, Lawrence (Larry) Langford Jr. At the time of her passing, Anna Langford also had three grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Civic Engagement
Anna Langford was very active in her community.
- She was on the executive board of the League of Black Women.
- She was also a founding member of Operation Breadbasket, which later became known as Operation PUSH. These groups worked to improve economic opportunities and civil rights for African Americans.
Legacy
After her death, the Chicago Public Schools honored Anna R. Langford. In 2010, Nicholas Copernicus Elementary, a school in the Englewood neighborhood, was renamed the Anna R. Langford Community Academy. This renaming celebrates her lasting impact and dedication to her community.
See Also
- List of African-American United States Representatives
Images for kids
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Langford, 1971.
