Carlton Benjamin Goodlett facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Carlton Benjamin Goodlett
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Carlton Goodlett in 1966
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| Born | July 23, 1914 |
| Died | January 25, 1997 (aged 82) |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Physician, newspaper publisher, civil rights activist |
Carlton Benjamin Goodlett (July 23, 1914 – January 25, 1997) was an American doctor, newspaper owner, and important civil rights leader in San Francisco, California. From 1951 until his death, he owned the Reporter Publishing Company. This company published the Sun-Reporter and other African-American newspapers in Northern California. Dr. Goodlett also had a busy medical practice until he retired from medicine in 1983.
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Early Life and Learning
Carlton Goodlett was born in Chipley, Florida. He later moved to Omaha, Nebraska. He was a very smart child. Even when he was too young, he would follow his older sister to school. The teacher eventually let him stay because he was so eager to learn.
Education Journey
Goodlett earned his first college degree in 1935 from Howard University in Washington, D.C.. In 1938, at just 23 years old, he made history. He became one of the first African Americans to get a doctorate in psychology from the University of California at Berkeley. Later, in 1944, he became a medical doctor. He earned his Doctor of Medicine degree from Meharry Medical College in Nashville.
Making a Difference in San Francisco
After finishing his studies, Dr. Goodlett returned to the San Francisco Bay Area in 1945. He opened his own medical office. He wanted to help the growing number of black families who had moved there for war jobs. At the same time, he became a strong voice for civil rights.
Leading the Fight for Rights
From 1947 to 1949, Dr. Goodlett was the president of the local National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). This group works for equal rights. He spoke out against unfair hiring practices. For example, he protested that San Francisco's public transportation system did not hire black people. He also pushed for better public housing. He showed how black people and Jewish people were kept off important local boards.
Newspaper Owner and Voice for the Community
In 1948, Dr. Goodlett became a co-owner of The Reporter newspaper. This paper later joined with another one to become The Sun-Reporter. By 1951, he owned the newspaper completely. He wrote many of the important articles himself. He made The Sun-Reporter the most important black newspaper in Northern California.
By the late 1950s, Dr. Goodlett was a very important black leader in San Francisco. He gave many speeches and used his newspapers to gain political power. He became friends with famous black entertainers, artists, and politicians. These included W. E. B. Du Bois, Paul Robeson, and Dick Gregory.
Helping Black Doctors
One big problem for black doctors in San Francisco was that they could not work in local hospitals. They could send their patients to the hospital, but they could not follow up on their care there. Under Dr. Goodlett's leadership, all non-white doctors won the right to treat their patients in all public hospitals in the city. Dr. Goodlett also built new homes in San Francisco that were open to everyone. He retired from his medical practice in 1983.
Political Influence and Activism
In 1947, Dr. Goodlett helped start the San Francisco Young Democrats. He was a close friend and supporter of Phillip Burton, who became a powerful member of Congress. Phil Burton's brother, John Burton, said that Dr. Goodlett was key to Phil Burton first getting elected.
Dr. Goodlett also strongly supported Willie L. Brown Jr. for a political seat in 1962. He even helped pay for Brown's campaign. Brown won in 1964 and became a very important leader in the California government. Later, Brown served as Mayor of San Francisco.
Speaking Out for Change
Dr. Goodlett was not afraid to criticize his own political friends. He felt that leaders like President John F. Kennedy were not moving fast enough on civil rights. In 1966, he even ran for governor himself. This was a way to protest and push for more change. He finished third in the election. Until the Black Panther Party became well-known, Dr. Goodlett was the main leader in San Francisco's civil rights movement. He helped many African Americans get jobs and important positions in the city.
In 1968, Dr. Goodlett was arrested while supporting a student strike at San Francisco State University. The students wanted a Black studies department. They won, and the university became the first in the country to have such a program.
Global Connections and Peace Efforts
In the early 1960s, Dr. Goodlett joined the World Peace Council. This group included over 120 countries working for peace. He traveled around the world to support progressive causes. He sometimes met with leaders of other countries.
Dr. Goodlett was one of the first important African Americans to speak out against the Vietnam War. He even received the Lenin Peace Medal from the Soviet Union in 1970.
Like many well-known people in San Francisco, Dr. Goodlett had a connection to Reverend Jim Jones of the Peoples Temple. Dr. Goodlett was Jones' personal doctor and published his church's newspaper. After a tragic event in 1978, Dr. Goodlett said, "Everybody is running like hell away from Jim Jones now, but none of us knew at the time."
Later Life and Lasting Impact
As he got older, Dr. Goodlett became sick with Parkinson's disease. But he still worked hard. He would dictate or write many of his newspaper's articles. He also held political meetings in his office. He continued to guide his newspapers. He once said, "The black tail is never going to wag the white dog. But if we live in the belly of the beast, we can cause quite a bellyache." This meant that even if black people were a smaller group, they could still make a big impact.
In June 1994, Dr. Goodlett left San Francisco. He spent his last years with his son, Dr. Garry M. Goodlett, in Cumming, Iowa. He passed away there in 1997.
On January 29, 1997, San Francisco's Mayor Willie L. Brown Jr. spoke about Dr. Goodlett. He said it was "the single biggest loss that the black community and the progressive community has ever suffered in San Francisco." He called Dr. Goodlett "the pioneer on equal rights, equal opportunity, political action, entrepreneurship, and economic independence." He truly was a "renaissance person" – someone with many talents and interests.
To honor him, on January 18, 1999, the official address of San Francisco City Hall was changed. It became 1 Carlton B. Goodlett Place. His name is now on the street sign and on all official mail from the building.
