Evelyn Thomas Butts facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Evelyn Thomas Butts
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Butts, 1966
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| Born |
Evelyn Thomas
May 22, 1924 Norfolk, Virginia
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| Died | March 11, 1993 (aged 68) Norfolk, Virginia
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| Known for | civil rights activist, politician |
Evelyn Thomas Butts (born May 22, 1924, died March 11, 1993) was an important African American activist and politician from Virginia. She is famous for fighting against the poll tax, a special fee people had to pay to vote. Her case went all the way to the United States Supreme Court. Evelyn Butts was a key part of the Civil Rights Movement and later became a strong leader in Norfolk politics.
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Early Life
Evelyn Thomas was born on May 22, 1924, in Norfolk, Virginia. When she was ten years old, her mother passed away. Her aunt, who was very active in politics, adopted and raised her.
In 1941, Evelyn married Charles Herbert Butts. Her husband served in World War II. They had three daughters together. When Charles retired because of a war injury, Evelyn worked as a seamstress. She also rented out rooms in her home to earn money. The Butts family moved to the Oakwood neighborhood in Norfolk. Evelyn soon became the president of the Oakwood neighborhood's civic league.
Fighting for Civil Rights
Evelyn Butts joined the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s. As head of the Oakwood Civic League, she helped create Rosemont Middle School. This meant children in her neighborhood did not have to travel far to a segregated school.
In 1960, she helped protest against the Be-Lo Supermarket. The store was not hiring black people for better jobs. She also spoke out against black people being told where to sit in football stadiums. In 1961, Butts was asked to run for president of the Norfolk NAACP. She decided to step down when it was clear she would not win.
Challenging the Poll Tax
Evelyn Butts and her lawyer, Joseph A. Jordan Jr., took the state of Virginia to court. They argued that the poll tax was unfair. This tax made people pay a fee to vote. They filed their case in November 1963.
Butts argued that the tax was unconstitutional. She said it created a "financial burden" that went against the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment. This amendment ensures everyone is treated fairly by the law.
In March 1964, her first case was dismissed. Butts filed another case. The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the tax was legal. Butts then appealed her case to the United States Supreme Court. The Supreme Court agreed to hear her appeal in October 1965.
Butts' case was combined with a similar case by Annie E. Harper. The combined case, Harper v. Virginia State Board of Elections, was decided in March 1966. The Supreme Court ruled that poll taxes were unconstitutional. This was a huge victory for voting rights.
Registering Voters
After this important court decision, Butts worked hard to register black voters in Norfolk. She helped 2,882 people register to vote in just six months. Butts, along with Jordan and other leaders, started the Concerned Citizens for Political Education group. This group became very powerful in local politics during the 1970s.
Political Career
In 1975, Butts was chosen to be a commissioner for the Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority (NRHA). She served on the NRHA for twelve years. In 1982, the governor appointed her to the State Board of Housing and Community Development.
Butts ran for city council in Norfolk three times. She ran in 1980, 1982, and 1984, but she did not win any of these elections. In 1984, Butts also spoke in a court trial. She supported an at-large election system in Norfolk. This system allows voters to choose candidates from anywhere in the city, not just their local area.
In 1990, Butts retired from politics. She passed away at her home on March 11, 1993. She is buried in Norfolk's Forest Lawn Cemetery.
Legacy
In November 1995, Norfolk named a street in honor of Evelyn Butts. On March 27, 1996, the city held a celebration. It marked 30 years since the poll tax was ended. During the event, they honored Butts and other activists.
In 2017, Butts' daughter, Charlene Butts Ligon, wrote a book about her mother. The book is called Fearless: How a Poor Virginia Seamstress Took on Jim Crow, Beat the Poll Tax and Changed Her City Forever. The New Journal and Guide newspaper said the book was "thoughtful and information-filled." The book shares many personal details about Butts' life and her activism, as told by her daughter.
