Crystal Bird Fauset facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Crystal Bird Fauset
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| Personal details | |
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Crystal Dreda Bird
June 27, 1893 Princess Anne, Maryland, United States |
| Died | March 27, 1965 (aged 71) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Occupation | Politician Pennsylvania State Legislator of the United States of America |
Crystal Bird Fauset (born June 27, 1893 – died March 27, 1965) was an important leader in American history. She worked to make things fair for everyone. Crystal Fauset was a civil rights activist and a social worker. She was also the very first African American woman elected to a state legislature in the United States. This happened in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Crystal Fauset was born in Maryland and grew up in Boston. She began her career as a teacher. Later, she worked for groups like the Young Women's Christian Association and the American Friends Service Committee. In 1935, she helped lead the Works Progress Administration in Philadelphia. This was a government program that created jobs. She also started working with the Democratic National Committee. In 1938, Crystal Fauset made history. She was elected to the Pennsylvania state legislature. She served for one year. During that time, she worked on laws to help people. These laws covered things like affordable homes and fair job opportunities.
During the time of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Fauset joined the Office of Civilian Defense. This was in 1941. She advised on how to improve race relations. Later, in 1944, she left the Democratic Party. She then supported the Republican candidate for president. In her later years, Fauset focused on global issues. She helped create the United Nations Council of Philadelphia. This group is now known as the World Affairs Council.
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Crystal Fauset's Early Life
Crystal Dreda Bird was born in Princess Anne, Maryland. Her parents were Benjamin Oliver Bird and Portia E. Bird. She was one of nine children. Her father was the first principal of Princess Anne Academy. This school was for Black students. It later became the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. After her father died in 1897, her mother became the principal. Her mother died in 1900.
Crystal was then raised by her aunt, Lucy Groves, in Boston. Her aunt encouraged her to become a teacher. Crystal went to public schools that included students of all races. In 1914, she graduated from Boston Normal School. She earned a degree in education from Teachers College, Columbia University in 1931. That same year, she married Arthur Fauset. He was an educator and civil rights activist. They later separated and divorced in 1944.
Crystal Fauset's Career
After finishing college, Crystal Fauset taught in public schools from 1914 to 1918. Then, she became a field secretary for the Young Women's Christian Association. She worked on programs for Black youth and working girls across the U.S. In this role, she began speaking out. She talked about the concerns of the Black community. She also spoke about improving race relations. She later joined several groups. These groups worked to advance the rights of African Americans.
Working with the American Friends Service Committee
While studying at Columbia University, Crystal Fauset joined the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC). This was a Quaker organization. The AFSC wanted to improve race relations in the U.S. They hired Fauset in 1927. One of their goals was to encourage understanding between different cultures. The AFSC sponsored Fauset as a speaker. She traveled to share this message.
Between 1927 and 1928, she gave about 200 speeches. She spoke to 25,000 to 50,000 people. She visited schools, churches, and community groups. Her speeches aimed to help people understand Black communities better. She wanted to "lift the curtain of misunderstanding" that divided people. She talked about racial prejudice. She also highlighted the contributions of Black communities throughout history. Most of her speeches were to white audiences. She spoke in cities like Philadelphia, New York City, and Boston. Her talks in Philadelphia made a big impact.
Working for Change (1928-1937)
After her work with the AFSC, Fauset continued her education. She earned a degree from Teachers College, Columbia University in 1931. She then helped create the Institute of Race Relations at Swarthmore College in 1933. She was a leader for their summer programs for two years. The Institute studied unfairness in jobs and housing for African Americans.
Fauset was very interested in improving housing for Black communities in Philadelphia. She spoke about poor living conditions. She pushed for new, affordable housing projects. She and other Black clubwomen also worked for more racial integration. They wanted more fairness within the Philadelphia branch of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom. Fauset believed that peace and disarmament would help African Americans and the nation. This was especially true during the Great Depression.
In 1935, Fauset became an assistant director for Philadelphia's Works Progress Administration (WPA). The WPA was a New Deal program. It focused on public projects like building roads. It also supported artists and writers. While at the WPA, Fauset stopped a system that limited jobs for Black women. This helped more African American women find work. She also started organizing for the Democratic Party. In 1936, she became the Director of Colored Women's Activities for the Democratic National Committee.
At the 1936 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, Fauset organized Black female WPA workers. They formed the Willing Works Democratic Organization (WWDO). This group had a thousand members. The WWDO helped more people register to vote. They also helped increase voter turnout for the Democratic Party in Philadelphia. This was especially true among Black communities. Through her work, Fauset became friends with First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. They worked together on political issues. Many Black voters switched from the Republican Party to the Democratic Party. This was because of Eleanor Roosevelt's support for Black leaders. Also, the New Deal programs under the Roosevelt administration helped Black communities.
Becoming a State Legislator
With support from the Democrats, Fauset ran for the state legislature in 1938. She was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. She represented the 18th District of Philadelphia. This area was mostly white at the time. She won by 7,000 votes. She gained strong support from women through her telephone campaign. She was one of the first politicians to use phone calls in her campaign. Fauset promised her voters: "I shall work for legislation that affects the general welfare of the people regardless of color." After her victory, she said: "My interest is in no way limited to my race, but is universal."
As a state legislator, she represented an area that was 66% white. Fauset introduced nine bills and three amendments. She pushed for affordable housing and public health efforts. She also worked for public aid and fair employment laws. These laws aimed to stop racial discrimination. She also supported changes to a 1913 law. This change would improve women's rights in the workplace.
In 1939, Fauset received her first Meritorious Service Medal. This was from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for her community work. She was also asked to be the main speaker at a meeting. This was for the National Council of Negro Women. This group was founded by civil rights activist Mary McLeod Bethune. It encouraged Black women to get involved in politics.
In January 1940, she left the state legislature. She took a new job as assistant director. She worked for the education and recreation program of the WPA. She also became the WPA's race relations advisor in Pennsylvania.
Working for Civilian Defense
In October 1941, Fauset was appointed to the new Race Relations Division. This was part of the Office of Civilian Defense (OCD). The OCD was one of the agencies during World War II. It was led by New York City Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia at first. The agency helped organize volunteer defense activities. American men, women, and children volunteered at home. By summer 1942, about 10 million people volunteered. OCD events included air-raid drills and salvage drives. They also planted Victory Gardens.
Fauset was hired to focus on African American efforts. The OCD had been criticized for not including enough people of color. Fauset worked to recruit African American civilians for the war effort. She urged communities to let Black members join local civil defense planning. She also addressed complaints of racial discrimination. For example, Black servicemen were sometimes excluded from United Service Organizations canteens. They were also kept out of combat missions. Fauset spoke out against segregation in the U.S. military. She also advised the First Lady and Fiorello LaGuardia on race relations.
Some historians believe Fauset was part of President Roosevelt's "Black Cabinet." This group worked to promote civil rights for African Americans. Fauset had been with the Democratic Party for ten years. But she left it in 1944. She felt the Party was not doing enough for Black voters and civil rights. She was also unhappy with the Roosevelt administration's slow progress on civil rights. She joined the Republican National Committee's division on Negro Affairs. She publicly supported Thomas E. Dewey, the Republican presidential candidate. Her announcement received different reactions from African American newspapers. Roosevelt won the election against Dewey.
Focusing on Global Issues
Crystal Fauset continued her work after World War II. She then focused on global issues. In 1945, she helped start the United Nations Council in Philadelphia. This group later became the World Affairs Council. She was an officer until 1950. She continued to volunteer for the organization for many years. Fauset also attended the founding of the United Nations in San Francisco in 1950.
During the 1950s, she traveled a lot. She visited Africa, India, and the Middle East. She became friends with leaders who fought for independence. These included Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana and Nnamdi Azikiwe of Nigeria. She also knew Ralph Bunche, an African American diplomat. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1950. Starting in 1955, Fauset worked to open an Africa House in New York. This was meant to be a place for Black and white Americans to learn about Africa. They could do this by meeting with Africans.
Later Life and Legacy
In 1955, Fauset received a second Meritorious Service Medal. This was again from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. In her later years, Fauset lived in New York City. She died in her sleep while visiting Philadelphia on March 27, 1965.
Some of Crystal Fauset's papers and photos are kept at Howard University. Her important achievements for African American people are remembered. A Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission Marker honors her. It was put up in 1991. You can find it outside her old home at 5402 Vine Street in Philadelphia. The marker says: "The first Black woman elected to a state legislature in the U.S., Fauset, who lived here, won her seat in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 1938. She later served as a Civil Defense race relations advisor under Franklin D. Roosevelt."
