Francis E. Rivers facts for kids

Francis E. Rivers was an important American lawyer and judge. He was born in the United States and passed away on July 28, 1975. His father, David Foote Rivers, was also a politician, serving as a state representative in Tennessee. Francis E. Rivers was a member of the Republican Party. He is remembered for his work in law and for breaking barriers for African Americans in the legal field.

Who Was Francis E. Rivers?

Francis E. Rivers was a dedicated lawyer and judge. He made history by becoming the first African American to serve on the City Court of New York City. This court is now known as the New York City Civil Court. His career showed great progress for civil rights and fairness in the legal system.

Breaking Barriers in Law

Francis E. Rivers faced challenges because of his race, but he worked hard to overcome them. His determination helped open doors for many others.

A Judge for New York City

In his role as a judge on the City Court of New York City, Francis E. Rivers helped make important decisions in legal cases. This was a very significant position, and he was the first African American to hold it. This achievement was a big step forward for equality in the legal profession.

Standing Up for Fairness

At one point, Francis E. Rivers was not allowed to join the American Bar Association. This was a group for lawyers that did not have any African American members at the time. However, many important lawyers supported Rivers. They even threatened to leave the association because they believed it was unfair to deny him membership. This shows how respected he was and how people stood up against unfair rules.

Serving in the State Assembly

Before becoming a judge, Francis E. Rivers was also involved in politics. He ran for a seat in the New York State Assembly in 1929. He won the election, defeating the person who was already in office, Abraham Grenthal. Rivers then served in the 153rd New York State Legislature in 1930. In this role, he helped create laws for the state of New York.

Important Connections

Francis E. Rivers knew and worked with other famous figures who fought for civil rights. In 1932, the well-known writer and civil rights leader W. E. B. Du Bois wrote to Rivers. Du Bois was looking for information about someone he wanted to nominate for a special award called the Spingarn Medal. Years later, in 1966, Francis E. Rivers had the honor of presenting an award to Thurgood Marshall. Thurgood Marshall would later become the first African American Justice on the U.S. Supreme Court. These connections show Rivers's place among important leaders of his time.

See Also

• List of African-American jurists
• List of first minority male lawyers and judges in New York
• African-American officeholders during and following the Reconstruction era