Elaine Jones facts for kids

Elaine R. Jones (born March 2, 1944) is an American lawyer and activist. She is famous for her work in the civil rights movement. In 1970, she joined the NAACP Legal Defense Fund (LDF). This organization works to protect the rights of all people. In 1993, she made history by becoming the LDF's first female director and president.

About Elaine Jones

Her Early Life

Elaine Jones was born on March 2, 1944, in Norfolk, Virginia. She grew up in the Southern United States during a time called Jim Crow. This was a period when laws kept Black people separate and treated them unfairly.

Her mother was a schoolteacher who went to college. Her father worked on trains as a Pullman porter. He was also part of the first Black trade union in the country. Her parents taught her about the unfairness of racism. But they also taught her to believe in a better future.

Education and Early Adventures

Elaine Jones was a very good student. She graduated with honors from Howard University in 1965. She studied political science there.

After college, she joined the Peace Corps from 1965 to 1967. She taught English in Turkey. She was one of the first African Americans to serve in Turkey with the Peace Corps.

After her time in Turkey, she went to law school. She became the first African-American woman to attend the University of Virginia School of Law. She also became the first to graduate from there in 1970.

Fighting for Justice

Joining the LDF

After law school in 1970, Jones joined the NAACP Legal Defense Fund (LDF). This is the oldest law firm in the country. It fights for equal rights and justice. They help people of color, women, and those who are poor.

She was one of the first African-American women to defend people facing the death penalty. This is the most serious punishment for a crime. Her work often faced challenges from groups like the Ku Klux Klan.

In 1972, just two years after law school, she worked on a very important case. It was called Furman v. Georgia. This case went to the U.S. Supreme Court. It led to the end of the death penalty in 37 states for a time. She also worked on many cases about unfair treatment in jobs. These cases helped many workers.

Working in Washington, D.C.

In 1975, Elaine Jones took a special job. She became an assistant to the U.S. Secretary of Transportation, William T. Coleman, Jr.. She helped write rules that allowed women to join the United States Coast Guard.

She returned to the LDF in 1977. There, she created a new role. She became the LDF's main person in Washington, D.C.. She was known as a great negotiator. She spoke up for people who were left out of society. Her work helped make the federal courts more fair. She helped get more judges of color appointed.

She also played a big part in passing important laws. These included the Voting Rights Act Amendments of 1982. This law helped protect the right to vote. She also helped with the Fair Housing Act of 1988, which fought housing discrimination. Other key laws were the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1988 and the Civil Rights Act of 1991. These laws helped protect civil rights for everyone.

Leading the LDF

In 1993, Elaine Jones became the first woman to lead the LDF. She was named president and director-counsel. As a leader, she expanded the LDF's work. They started working on new areas like health care and environmental justice. But she also kept the LDF focused on its main goals. These included education, voting rights, getting fair jobs, and criminal justice.

Under her leadership, the LDF won important cases. One was Gratz v. Bollinger. This case helped protect affirmative action programs. These programs aim to create equal opportunities. She also led a successful effort to free a young woman named Kemba Smith. This case showed how unfair some sentencing laws were.

In 2000, President Bill Clinton gave Jones a special award. It was the Eleanor Roosevelt Human Rights Award. This honored her important work for human rights.

In 2004, after 34 years of service, she left her position at the LDF.

Awards

• Foremother Award from National Center for Health Research, 2016