Faya Ora Rose Touré facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Faya Ora Rose Touré
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Faya Ora Rose Touré in March 2021
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Rose M. Gaines
May 20, 1945 Salisbury, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Spouse | Hank Sanders |
| Occupation | Attorney, judge, activist |
Faya Ora Rose Touré, born Rose M. Gaines, is an American civil rights activist and lawyer. She was born on May 20, 1945. She made history as Alabama's first Black woman judge. Her husband is Henry Sanders, who is an Alabama State Senator.
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About Faya Ora Rose Touré
Early Life and Education
Faya Ora Rose Touré was born Rose M. Gaines in Salisbury, North Carolina. Her parents were Rev. D. A. Gaines and Ora Lee Gaines. She finished George Clem High School in 1962.
She then went to Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, North Carolina. She graduated with the highest honors in 1966. After that, she studied law at Harvard Law School and graduated in 1969.
Her Name Change
In 2002, Rose Gaines changed her name to Faya Ora Rose Touré. She chose this new name to honor Ahmed Sékou Touré. He was the first President of Guinea, a country in West Africa. She also wanted to leave behind what she called her "slave name."
Family and Hobbies
Faya Ora Rose Touré is married to Henry Sanders. They have three children of their own and have also fostered four other children.
Besides her legal work, Touré is also a talented songwriter and playwright. She hosts a weekly radio show called "Faya's Fire." She also wrote a famous gospel song titled "I'm Gonna Lift My Sister Up."
Fighting for Civil Rights
Early Legal Work
After finishing law school, Touré began her career helping people. She worked with groups like the National Welfare Rights Organization. This group helped people understand their rights regarding welfare. She also worked at the Columbia Center on Social Welfare Policy and Law.
Later, she worked for the Legal Services Corporation. This organization provides legal help to people who cannot afford it. She then helped start her own law firm, Chestnut, Sanders, Sanders, Pettaway & Campbell, LLC.
Important Cases and Victories
Touré worked on many important civil rights cases. One of her biggest cases was called Pigford v. Veneman. This was the largest civil rights case in history. In this case, she helped Black farmers win over $1 billion in damages. This money came from the United States Department of Agriculture. The farmers had faced unfair treatment.
In 1982, her law firm also studied how Black families were losing their land. They documented this land loss for the Department of Agriculture's Emergency Land Fund.
Founding Important Organizations
Faya Ora Rose Touré has founded many important places and groups. These include:
- The National Voting Rights Museum: This museum teaches about the history of voting rights.
- The McRae Learning Center: A place for learning and education.
- The Ancient Africa, Slavery and Civil War Museum: A museum about African history and the Civil War.
- The Bridge Crossing Jubilee: An event that celebrates the historic Selma to Montgomery marches.
- The 21st Century Youth Leadership Movement: A group that helps young people become leaders.
- The Black Belt Arts and Cultural Center: A center for arts and culture in Alabama's Black Belt region.
Her Time as a Judge
In 1973, Faya Ora Rose Touré made history. She became the first African-American woman judge in Alabama. She served as a municipal judge until 1977. This was a very important step for civil rights and for women in the legal field.
See also
- List of first women lawyers and judges in Alabama
- List of African-American jurists
