Belford Lawson Jr. facts for kids

Belford Vance Lawson Jr. (born July 9, 1901 – died February 23, 1985) was an important American lawyer and civil rights activist. He worked hard to make sure all people had equal rights. He appeared before the U.S. Supreme Court at least eight times.

Lawson was the first African-American man to win a case at the Supreme Court. He was also the first African-American president of the YMCA, a well-known youth organization. His wife, Marjorie McKenzie Lawson, was also a lawyer. She became the first African-American female judge to be approved by the Senate for the Juvenile Court in Washington, D.C.

Early Life and College

Belford Lawson was born and grew up in Roanoke, Virginia. He went to the University of Michigan. There, he was the second African-American person to play on the school's main football team. He was the only African American on the team during the time of coach Fielding H. Yost.

Fighting for Rights

In 1933, Lawson helped start the New Negro Alliance (NNA) in Washington, D.C. He worked with John A. Davis Sr. and M. Franklin Thorne. Their goal was to challenge businesses in black neighborhoods that would not hire black employees.

The NNA started a campaign called Don't Buy Where You Can't Work. This idea was quite new at the time. They organized or threatened to boycott businesses owned by white people if those businesses did not hire black people.

Some businesses tried to stop the NNA's protests with a legal order called an injunction. Lawson, as the main lawyer, fought back. He had help from another famous lawyer, Thurgood Marshall. They took their fight all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court in a case called New Negro Alliance v. Sanitary Grocery Co. (1938).

The Supreme Court decided that the NNA and the people had a right to boycott. This decision became a very important case. It helped African Americans in their fight against unfair hiring practices. After this, "Don't Buy Where You Can't Work" groups grew across the country. The NNA believed that by 1940, they had helped secure 5,106 jobs for black people. Businesses realized they could not afford to lose customers during the Great Depression.

Other Important Cases

In 1934, Lawson encouraged National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) lawyer Charles Houston to let Thurgood Marshall file a case. This case, Murray v. Maryland (1935), challenged a state law that forced separate schools. Marshall won the case, and Donald Murray was allowed to attend the University of Maryland's law school.

Lawson was also part of the legal team that won Henderson v. Southern Railway Company (1950). This case challenged the approval of racial segregation on railroads. The lawsuit led to the end of segregation in railroad dining cars.

Leadership and Legacy

Belford Lawson was the 16th General President of Alpha Phi Alpha. This was the first college fraternity started by African Americans. The fraternity holds an annual Belford V. Lawson Oratorical Contest. College members show off their speaking skills at different levels. The contest helps identify problems in society. It also connects these problems to the goals of the fraternity.

In 1973, Lawson was chosen as President of YMCA of the USA. He continued to work as a lawyer and be active in community groups. He passed away in Washington, D.C., in 1985.