Ezola Foster facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ezola Foster
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Foster in 2000
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| Personal details | |
| Born | August 9, 1938 Maurice, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Died | May 22, 2018 (aged 79) Boulder City, Nevada, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic (before 1984) Republican (1984–2000) Reform (2000–2002) Constitution (2002–2018) |
| Alma mater | Texas Southern University |
Ezola Broussard Foster (August 9, 1938 – May 22, 2018) was an American conservative activist, writer, and politician. She led a group called Black Americans for Family Values. She also wrote a book titled What's Right for All Americans. In the year 2000, she ran for Vice President with Pat Buchanan for the Reform Party. Later, in 2002, Foster joined the United States Constitution Party.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Ezola Foster was born in 1938 in a town called Maurice, Louisiana. She grew up there. In 1960, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Education from Texas Southern University. A Bachelor of Arts is a four-year college degree. Later, in 1973, she earned a Master's degree from Pepperdine University. A Master's degree is an advanced college degree.
In 1960, Foster moved to Los Angeles, California. She worked there as a public high school teacher for 33 years. She taught subjects like typing, business, and sometimes English.
Political Journey and Activism
Starting in Politics
Ezola Foster first ran for office in 1986. She sought to become a representative in the California State Assembly. She ran as a Republican candidate. In that election, she came in second place. She lost to the person who already held the position, Maxine Waters.
In the 1990s, Foster became known for her strong views. She supported police officers involved in the Rodney King case. She even helped organize a dinner for one of the officers in 1995.
Public Advocate for Change
In 1994, while teaching at Bell High School, Foster spoke out for Proposition 187. This was a California law proposal. It aimed to stop government services like healthcare and public education for people who were in the U.S. without permission. This idea was not popular at her school. Most students there were of Hispanic background.
In 1996, Foster appeared on the TV show MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour on PBS. She talked about her new book, What's Right for All Americans. She said that illegal immigration was causing problems in Los Angeles schools. Some of her co-workers at the school disagreed with her. They wrote a public letter against her views.
Soon after, Foster left her teaching job. She said it was because of how she was treated at work. She then went on speaking tours for the John Birch Society. This group promotes conservative ideas.
TV Appearances
Ezola Foster was a frequent guest on many TV shows. She appeared on programs like Larry King Live, CBS This Morning, Nightline, and Politically Incorrect. She also appeared on news channels like CNN, MSNBC, CBS, NBC, and ABC.
Running for Vice President in 2000
In 2000, Pat Buchanan asked Ezola Foster to be his running mate. A running mate is the person who runs for Vice President alongside a presidential candidate. Buchanan chose her because of her conservative views and public speaking skills. Some people criticized his choice. They said he picked her because she was African American. They compared it to affirmative action, which Buchanan did not support.
Foster supported Buchanan's earlier campaigns. She stopped her speaking tours to join the election race. When Buchanan was in the hospital, Foster became the main face of their campaign. She made many TV and radio appearances.
Ezola Foster made history in this election. She was the first African American woman to be nominated for Vice President by a party that received government funding. She was also the second woman ever to be nominated for Vice President by such a party. The first was Geraldine Ferraro.
Running for Congress
In 2001, Foster ran for Congress. She was a candidate for the Reform Party in California's 32nd district. She received 1.5% of the votes in that special election.
Personal Life
Ezola Foster was a Catholic. Her first marriage ended. She later married Chuck Foster in 1977. He worked as a truck driver.
See also
- Black conservatism in the United States
