Beulah Mae Donald facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Beulah Mae Donald
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Donald in 1981
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| Born | October 10, 1920 DeLisle, Mississippi, Mississippi, U.S.
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| Died | September 17, 1988 (aged 67) Mobile, Alabama, Mobile, U.S.
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| Known for | Successfully suing the Ku Klux Klan |
| Children | 7 (including Michael Donald) |
Beulah Mae Donald (born October 10, 1920 – died September 17, 1988) was a brave African-American woman. She became famous for successfully taking legal action against the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) after her son, Michael Donald, was tragically killed by members of the group. Her fight for justice made history and showed that even powerful groups could be held responsible for their actions.
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Beulah's Early Life
Beulah Mae Donald was born on October 10, 1920. Her hometown was DeLisle, Mississippi. Her father, Marion Gregory, worked at a saw mill. Her mother, Mary Gregory, was a laundress. Beulah was the youngest of eight children. She helped her family and grew up as a strong member of her church.
Later, Beulah moved to Mobile, Alabama, with her family. She had to leave school early to work in a hotel. By the 1960s, she was a single mother raising two children. She then met David Donald, and they got married. They had five more children together. After some years, they divorced. Beulah returned to Mobile to care for her parents.
Fighting for Justice Against the KKK
On March 21, 1981, something terrible happened. Beulah's youngest son, Michael Donald, was killed by members of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK). At first, some officials thought his death was not linked to the KKK. But Beulah knew it was. She was determined to clear Michael's name and find out the truth.
When the investigation slowed down, people organized protests. They wanted the police to keep looking into Michael's death. Two years later, two men were found guilty of killing Michael.
The Lawsuit Begins
After Michael's death, a lawyer named Morris Dees reached out to Beulah. He worked for the Southern Poverty Law Center. He suggested suing the KKK. Beulah agreed to be part of the lawsuit. It was officially filed in her name in 1984.
The lawsuit targeted a specific part of the KKK called Unit 900. This group was known for being very violent. Morris Dees later said that Beulah's involvement was "critical to the case." She refused to settle for a large sum of money. She wanted a full trial to show what the KKK had done.
A Mother's Forgiveness
During the trials, Beulah showed incredible strength. She did not support the death penalty for the men who killed her son. She even told one of the Klansmen, "I do forgive you." She added, "From the day I found out who you all was, I asked God to take care of y'all, and he has."
On February 12, 1987, after six years, the court made a big decision. An all-white jury decided in Beulah's favor. They ordered the KKK to pay $7 million. This was a huge victory. Unit 900 of the KKK had to declare bankruptcy because they could not pay.
A Historic Victory
By November 1987, Beulah had not yet received the money. But she told the news, "I wasn't even thinking about the money. If I hadn't gotten a cent, it wouldn't have mattered. I wanted to know how and why they did it." Her lawyer, Michael Figures, said she was "the rock on which all of this was ultimately built."
Beulah Mae Donald's brave actions were recognized by many. Ms. magazine named her one of the 1987 women of the year. Essence magazine gave her an award the next year. She also received a Candace Award in 1988.
Beulah Mae Donald passed away peacefully on September 17, 1988. She died in a hospital in Mobile. Her lawsuit was a landmark case. It was the first time the KKK was held financially responsible for the actions of its members. This showed that no group is above the law.
