Benjamin Chavis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Benjamin Chavis
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| Executive Director of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People | |
| In office 1993–1994 |
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| Preceded by | Benjamin Hooks |
| Succeeded by | Earl Shinhoster |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Benjamin Franklin Chavis Jr.
January 22, 1948 Oxford, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Education | St. Augustine University University of North Carolina, Charlotte (BA) Duke University (MDiv) Howard University (DMin) Union Theological Seminary |
Benjamin Franklin Chavis Jr. (born January 22, 1948) is an American activist, author, and journalist. He is currently the president and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association. He also helps lead the political group No Labels.
When he was young, Chavis worked with Martin Luther King Jr. in the civil rights movement. In 1971, at age 23, he became known worldwide as a leader of the Wilmington Ten. This group of civil rights activists in North Carolina was wrongly found guilty of arson. Chavis was the oldest of the ten and received the longest prison sentence. However, their convictions were later overturned in 1980 because of "prosecutorial misconduct" (meaning the way the case was handled by the prosecution was unfair). After being freed, Chavis continued his work in civil rights. In 1988, he became a vice president of the National Council of Churches.
In 1993, Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. was chosen to be the executive director and CEO of the NAACP, a major civil rights organization. He later helped organize the Million Man March in 1995. Since 2001, Chavis has been the CEO and Co-Chairman of the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network in New York City, which he started with music leader Russell Simmons. In 2014, Chavis became the president and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association, which supports Black newspapers across the country.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Benjamin Franklin Chavis Jr. was born and grew up in Oxford, North Carolina. In 1960, when he was twelve, Chavis was the first African American to get a library card at the public library, which was segregated at the time. He finished high school in 1965.
Chavis earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Chemistry from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 1969. He later earned a Master of Divinity degree from Duke University in 1980 and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Howard University in 1981. He also studied at Union Theological Seminary.
Working for Civil Rights
Early Activism
In 1963, while still in high school, Chavis became a youth leader in North Carolina for Martin Luther King Jr.'s group, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). He also joined other important civil rights groups like CORE and SNCC.
After college, in 1969, Chavis returned to Oxford and taught at Mary Potter High School. In 1970, after a young Black man named Henry Marrow was killed and the accused men were found not guilty by an all-white jury, Chavis organized a protest march. This march went from Oxford to North Carolina's State Capitol Building in Raleigh. After the march, Chavis organized a boycott of white businesses in Oxford. This boycott lasted for 18 months until the town agreed to integrate its public places, including schools.
The Wilmington Ten
In 1971, Chavis was sent to Wilmington, North Carolina to help desegregate the public schools. The city had closed the Black high school and moved students to other schools, which caused conflicts. Students organized a boycott to protest for their civil rights.
Chavis and nine other people were arrested in February 1972. They were accused of planning and committing arson. After a trial that many found unfair, all ten were found guilty in 1972. Chavis, being the oldest at 24, received the longest sentence of 34 years. They were sent to prison while their supporters worked to appeal their case. The case of the Wilmington Ten became known around the world as an example of unfair legal action.
In 1978, Amnesty International called Benjamin Chavis and eight others of the Wilmington Ten "American political prisoners." This meant they were held for their beliefs or actions, not for a real crime. In December 1980, a federal court ordered a new trial and overturned their original convictions because of "prosecutorial misconduct."
Chavis wrote about his experiences in books like An American Political Prisoner Appeals for Human Rights (written while he was in prison) and Psalms from Prison. In 2012, North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue officially granted "Pardons of Innocence" to Chavis and the other living members of the Wilmington Ten. This meant they were truly innocent of the charges.
Environmental Justice
Benjamin Chavis is often called the "Godfather of the Environmental Justice Movement." He is known for using the term environmental racism in 1982 during protests about a toxic waste landfill in Warren County, North Carolina.
In 1986, Chavis led a national study called Toxic Waste and Race in the United States of America. This study showed a clear link between where toxic waste sites were located and where minority communities lived. His work helped start a movement that has grown across the country and the world.
Leading the NAACP
In 1993, Chavis became the executive director and CEO of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). He was the youngest person to hold this important position. Chavis had joined the NAACP when he was just twelve years old.
He focused the NAACP's efforts on helping communities of color gain economic power. The NAACP also worked on voter education and created programs to help young people learn about business. In August 1994, Chavis left the NAACP after a disagreement with the board.
Other Leadership Roles
In 1995, Chavis helped create the National African American Leadership Summit (NAALS). He also served as the National Director for the Million Man March Organizing Committee. This group planned and promoted the Million Man March, a large gathering in Washington, D.C.
Media and Hip-Hop
Newspaper and Radio
From 1985 to 1993, Chavis wrote a nationally shared newspaper column called Civil Rights Journal. He also hosted a national radio show with the same name.
Connecting with Hip-Hop
Chavis's connection to hip-hop started in 1969 when he was a DJ and MC in his hometown. He saw how urban music connected with young people who felt left out after the civil rights era. He noticed how popular hip-hop became with youth facing poverty.
Chavis met Russell Simmons and Lyor Cohen from Def Jam Records in 1986. As head of the NAACP in 1993, he worked with the music group Run DMC to encourage young people to vote. Chavis even appeared in the 1998 hip-hop movie Belly as "Rev. Saviour." He also contributed spoken word to albums by artists like Jim Jones and Cassidy.
Chavis and Russell Simmons worked together to get hip-hop leaders to support the Million Man March (1995) and the Million Family March (2000). They realized they shared a vision for young people in the hip-hop generation. This led them to create the first national "Hip-Hop Summit" in New York City, which grew into the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network (HSAN).
The HSAN is a large group of hip-hop artists, music industry leaders, youth activists, and civil rights leaders. With support from major hip-hop labels, HSAN has held successful "Hip-Hop Summits" in many cities across the U.S. Chavis and HSAN work to fight for children's public education, support literacy programs, and encourage voter registration.
In 2002, Chavis and HSAN joined with teachers and other groups to organize a large protest in New York City. They protested against big cuts to school budgets. Famous hip-hop stars like P. Diddy, Jay-Z, and Alicia Keys joined the demonstration. Chavis also worked with actress Cynthia Nixon and actor Bruce Willis to demand enough money for education in New York.
Other Activities
Business Ventures
Chavis has always supported business activities for young people and minorities. He has helped with various projects, from starting businesses to film production and publishing.
He was the president of Education Online Services for a time. He also serves as a senior advisor to the Diamond Empowerment Fund in New York. In June 2014, the National Newspaper Publishers Association elected Chavis as their president.
Chavis is a popular public speaker and often talks to schools, businesses, and non-profit groups. He is a well-known voice in the news both in the U.S. and around the world.
Past Memberships
- CEO and founder of the National African American Leadership Summit
- Chairman of the Prophetic Justice Unit of the National Council of Churches (NCC)
- Co-chair of the Southern Organizing Committee for Economic/Social Justice
- President of the Angolan Foundation
- Co-founder of the National Black Independent Political Party
- President of the board of the Washington Office on Africa
- Member of the Clinton/Gore Transition Team for the National Resources Center
- Co-founder of the UNC-Charlotte Black Student Union
Personal Life
Benjamin Chavis Jr. is the father of eight children. He is a member of the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity. He has shared that he enjoys reading books about chemistry for fun.
