Avery Alexander facts for kids

Avery Caesar Alexander (born June 29, 1910 – died March 5, 1999) was an important American civil rights leader and politician. He worked hard to make sure all people were treated fairly, no matter their race. He studied at Union Baptist Theological Seminary and became a Baptist minister in 1944. Later, in 1975, he was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives as a Democrat. He served there until he passed away.

Avery Alexander helped people in Louisiana register to vote before the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was passed. This law made it illegal to stop people from voting because of their race. He also organized boycotts in New Orleans. These boycotts targeted businesses that would not hire Black people. For example, he led a successful boycott that made a big transit company hire Black bus drivers.

Alexander took part in several marches with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.. He also joined sit-ins to help integrate lunch counters. This meant making sure everyone, regardless of race, could eat at the same counters. In one famous event in 1963, he was arrested during a protest at City Hall. Years later, in 1993, he protested again at a ceremony in New Orleans.

Fighting for Fairness

After becoming a Baptist minister, Avery Alexander joined the NAACP. This group works for the rights of Black people. He became a strong voice in the civil rights movement. Alexander took many actions against segregation and unfair treatment in New Orleans.

For instance, he led bus boycotts to protest unfair hiring practices. He also organized "lunch-counter sit-ins" in 1963. These sit-ins aimed to open public cafeterias to everyone. Alexander was even known for removing wooden barriers that separated white and Black people on streetcars.

In 1963, Alexander and Reverend Abraham Lincoln Davis organized a sit-in at New Orleans City Hall. They sat in the segregated cafeteria, refusing to leave until they were served or arrested. They stayed for five hours. When police arrived, Alexander and others were removed. This event was shown on TV, highlighting his peaceful protest.

Alexander also encouraged Black communities to support businesses that treated everyone fairly. Some white store owners on Dryades Street would not hire Black employees. Alexander urged people to boycott these stores. Many Black communities listened, and they spent their money at other businesses. This caused some stores on Dryades Street to close.

His Lasting Impact

In 1975, Avery Alexander became a Democrat and represented the 93rd District in the Louisiana House of Representatives. In 1977, he and nine other state lawmakers created the Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus. This group aimed to increase the number of Black people in state government. Alexander also served as the chaplain for this group. Because of his work in politics and religion, people called him "The Rev." In 1990, he also started a church called the Church of All People.

Avery Alexander's legacy lives on in New Orleans. In 1999, McDonogh #39 School on Saint Roch Avenue was renamed after him. Charity Hospital is now officially called Avery C. Alexander Memorial Hospital. The Pontchartrain Expressway was also renamed in his honor. In 2021, a stream in DeSoto Parish, Louisiana, was renamed for him too. A statue of Alexander stands across from the New Orleans City Hall. This is where he protested in 1963 to integrate the public cafeteria. After Hurricane Katrina, the statue, known as "The Crusader," was moved. It is now in front of the remodeled University Medical Center.