Benjamin Crump facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Benjamin Crump
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Crump in 2020
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Benjamin Lloyd Crump
October 10, 1969 |
| Education | Florida State University (BS, JD) |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Genae Crump |
| Children | 1 |
Benjamin Lloyd Crump (born October 10, 1969) is an American lawyer. He is known for taking on important civil rights cases. These cases often involve serious injuries or deaths that happen unfairly.
Mr. Crump has represented families in many well-known cases. These include the families of Trayvon Martin, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and Tyre Nichols. He also helped people affected by the Flint water crisis. His law firm, Ben Crump Law, is in Tallahassee, Florida.
In 2020, Mr. Crump became the lawyer for the families of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and Jacob Blake. In 2021, he represented the family of Daunte Wright. These cases led to many protests against police brutality in America and around the world. Because of his work, some people call him "Black America's attorney general."
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Early Life and School
Benjamin Lloyd Crump was born in Lumberton, North Carolina. He was the oldest of nine children. His grandmother raised him. His mother, Helen, worked as a hotel maid and in a shoe factory. She sent him to South Plantation High School in Plantation, Florida. He lived there with his stepfather, who was a math teacher. Mr. Crump considers his stepfather his father.
Mr. Crump went to Florida State University. He earned his bachelor's degree in criminal justice in 1992. He then earned his law degree in 1995. He is a lifelong member of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity.
Civil Rights Work
Crump rose to national prominence representing the family of Trayvon Martin, leading to significant media attention. He went on to represent families in many other high-profile cases involving police violence, including Michael Brown (Ferguson, 2014), Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Jacob Blake, and Daunte Wright. His legal advocacy has been pivotal in cases that sparked widespread protests against police brutality across the U.S. and internationally.
Beyond individual cases, Crump has also influenced legislation on police reform, excessive force prevention, and implicit bias training. He has secured historic settlements for his clients, such as a $27 million settlement for George Floyd’s family, $12 million for Breonna Taylor’s family, $10 million for Andre Hill’s family, and a $411 million verdict for Duane Washington in a police misconduct case
Activism and Advocacy
Mr. Crump often speaks out about racial equality and police actions. He has testified before Congress. He supports ideas like police wearing body cameras and changing rules about how police use force.
Film and TV Appearances
Mr. Crump has appeared in several films and TV shows.
- In the 2017 movie Marshall, he played civil rights lawyer Z. Alexander Looby.
- In April 2017, he appeared as himself on the TV show You the Jury.
- In December 2017, he investigated the murder of Tupac Shakur in the TV series Who Killed Tupac?.
- In 2018, Mr. Crump hosted a TV show called Evidence of Innocence. It focused on people who were wrongly convicted of crimes.
- On June 19, 2022, Netflix released Civil: Ben Crump. This documentary film is about his work. It was nominated for an Emmy Award in July 2023.
- On January 30, 2023, Mr. Crump appeared on The Daily Show to discuss the Tyre Nichols case.
- In 2024, Mr. Crump produced a film called “How to Sue the Klan.” It tells the story of a lawsuit against the Ku Klux Klan. The film won several awards and an NAACP Image Award in February 2025.
Awards and Recognition
Mr. Crump has received many awards for his work.
- In 2021, he was named one of the Time 100 Most Influential People in the World.
- Lawyers of Distinction named him their 2021 Lawyer of the Year.
- In 2020, Lawyers of Color named him the #1 Most Influential Black Lawyer of the Decade.
- In 2023, St. Thomas University in Florida renamed their law school after him. It is now the Benjamin L. Crump College of Law. It is the only law school named after a currently practicing African American lawyer.
- In 2023, Mr. Crump received the Social Impact Award at the NAACP Image Awards.
- In 2024, Mr. Crump was included in Forbes' first list of America's Top 200 Lawyers.
Books
Mr. Crump wrote a book called Open Season: Legalized Genocide of Colored People in 2019. It was published by HarperCollins Publishers.
