Fredrick McGhee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fredrick McGhee
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McGhee, c. 1890s
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Fredrick Lamar McGhee
October 28, 1861 |
| Died | September 9, 1912 (aged 50) |
| Resting place | Cavalry Cemetery, Saint Paul |
| Alma mater | Knoxville College |
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| Political party | Democratic Party (after 1893) Republican (until 1893) |
Fredrick Lamar McGhee (born October 28, 1861 – died September 9, 1912) was an important African-American lawyer and civil rights leader. He was born into slavery in Mississippi. McGhee later became the first Black attorney in Minnesota. He worked with famous leaders like W. E. B. Du Bois. McGhee helped start the Niagara Movement, which fought for equal rights. This movement was a big step towards the NAACP.
McGhee was also one of the first well-known Black supporters of the Democratic Party. At that time, most Black voters supported the Republican Party. He also became a Catholic, which was unusual for African Americans then. Most were Protestant.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Fredrick McGhee was born near Aberdeen, Mississippi, in 1861. His parents, Abraham McGhee and Sarah Walker, were enslaved. His father, Abraham, was able to read and write. This was very rare for an enslaved person. He later became a Baptist preacher.
In 1864, the McGhee family escaped slavery with Union soldiers. They traveled to Knoxville, Tennessee. Abraham McGhee had been enslaved there when he was younger. Both of McGhee's parents died by 1873. This left young Fredrick and his brothers as orphans. McGhee attended schools for freed people. He then studied law at Knoxville College, graduating in 1885.
Legal Career and Achievements
As a teenager, McGhee moved to Chicago to join his brothers. He first worked as a porter. Within a few years, he became a lawyer. He worked with Edward H. Morris, a leading Black lawyer in Chicago.
In 1886, McGhee married Mattie Crane. They later adopted a daughter named Ruth. In 1889, the McGhees moved to Saint Paul, Minnesota. There, Fredrick McGhee became the first Black lawyer allowed to practice law in Minnesota. He became known for defending people in criminal cases. He quickly became one of the most famous trial lawyers in the Twin Cities area. As a lawyer, McGhee successfully asked President Benjamin Harrison to free Lewis Carter. Carter was a Black soldier who had been wrongly accused of a crime.
Fighting for Civil Rights
McGhee was involved in many civil rights movements. These movements took place in the late 1800s and early 1900s. He was a national officer for the National Afro-American Council. He helped organize their national meeting in St. Paul in 1902.
At this meeting, Booker T. Washington took control of the Council. McGhee disagreed with Washington's approach. In 1903, McGhee left the Council. Soon after, W. E. B. Du Bois joined him. Together, McGhee and Du Bois founded the Niagara Movement in 1905. This movement was a very important step. It led to the creation of the NAACP in 1909. McGhee served as the chief legal officer for the Niagara Movement. In 1912, Du Bois gave McGhee credit for starting the movement. He said that McGhee "first suggested it."
Political Involvement
Like most African Americans at the time, McGhee first supported the Republican Party. In 1892, he was chosen to be a presidential elector by the Minnesota Republican Party. However, some other Republicans did not want him. He was replaced before the 1892 Republican National Convention.
This made McGhee upset. In 1893, he changed his support to the Democratic Party. By doing this, McGhee became one of the first well-known Black Democrats in the country. He became a leader in the Negro National Democratic League. McGhee strongly spoke out against the idea of imperialism. This was a policy supported by Republican President William McKinley.
McGhee signed a letter in 1900. This letter criticized McKinley and supported Democrat William Jennings Bryan for president. The letter stated that imperialism was "hostile to liberty." It said that forcing control over any people was "criminal aggression." It also reminded people that leaders like George Washington and Abraham Lincoln believed in freedom.
Religious Beliefs
After moving to Saint Paul, Minnesota, McGhee changed his religion. He converted from being a Baptist to a Catholic. This was at a time when most African Americans were Protestant. McGhee admired Archbishop John Ireland's anti-racist views. McGhee and Ireland worked together to found St Peter Claver Catholic Church in Saint Paul. This church still exists today. McGhee also took part in the Colored Catholic Congresses. These were led by Daniel Rudd.
Legacy
Fredrick McGhee died in 1912 at age 50. He passed away due to complications from a blood clot. He is buried with his wife and daughter in Calvary Cemetery in St. Paul. His friend Du Bois honored McGhee after his death. Du Bois wrote that McGhee was "a staunch advocate of democracy." He added that McGhee fought for the rights of Black men. This was because McGhee had experienced unfair treatment himself.
See also
- List of first minority male lawyers and judges in Minnesota
