H. Vinton Plummer facts for kids

Henry Vinton Plummer, Jr. was an American lawyer and real estate agent. He was also a civil rights activist who worked to improve life for Black people. In the 1920s, he joined Marcus Garvey's Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League (UNIA). He helped lead important parts of this group, like its public relations and even its special security team.

Plummer's Early Life and Education

Henry Vinton Plummer, Jr. was born in 1876 in Hyattsville, Maryland. His father, Henry V. Plummer, was a Baptist minister. He later became an Army chaplain.

From 1884 to 1894, Plummer's father was stationed at forts in the Western United States. Henry attended schools near these forts. He went to high school in Wyoming. He was the top student in his class, graduating in 1889. He was the only Black student in his class.

Plummer later studied at the University of Nebraska from 1897 to 1900. After his studies, he became a lawyer in Omaha, Nebraska. His wife, Zora B. Rucker, graduated from the Armour Institute in Chicago around 1905. She worked as a lecturer in home economics, often traveling for her work.

Plummer's Career in Omaha

While living in Omaha, Henry Plummer worked in law and real estate. He also became involved in local politics. In 1907, he worked with Ole Jackson to oppose a bill. This bill would have restricted tipping, which they felt was unfair to service workers.

In 1908, Plummer worked as a tax clerk in the county clerk's office. He spoke out against replacing Black officers with white ones in Black fire companies. He believed this was unfair.

In September 1908, Plummer was a delegate from Omaha. He attended the National Republican League convention in Cincinnati, Ohio. That fall, he ran for a seat in the Nebraska Legislature as a Republican. He was expected to win but did not. In December 1908, Plummer supported John Grant Pegg. Pegg was another person from Omaha who ran for president of the Interstate Literary Association.

Moving to Washington, D.C.

In 1910, Henry Plummer moved to Washington, D.C.. There, he started his own real estate business. He also became involved in progressive politics. He served as an assistant at the 1912 Progressive Party national convention.

Plummer also continued his legal work. In 1914, he assisted attorney John E. Collins in a court trial. He later spoke before a committee against Judge Daniel Thew Wright.

Involvement with the UNIA

Henry Plummer became an important member of Marcus Garvey's Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League (UNIA). He was a founding member of the UNIA branch in Newport News, Virginia. He served as the first vice president of this branch from 1918 to 1920.

Plummer became the head of the Black Star Line's publicity and propaganda efforts. He also became the chief of Marcus Garvey's special security staff. He was a leader in the UNIA's African Legion, which was like a militia. In 1920, he helped rewrite US Army drill rules for the militia. He also led drills for the group.

In the early 1920s, Plummer moved to New York City. In March 1921, he was part of a UNIA group that welcomed Liberian president Charles D. B. King. He also represented New York at the UNIA conventions in 1920, 1922, and 1924.

Plummer faced some challenges during his time with the UNIA. In March 1923, he had a disagreement with Garvey's secretary, Amy Lamos. Plummer thought about leaving the UNIA but decided to stay. At the August 1924 UNIA convention, Garvey supported Plummer. He defended him against claims that Plummer had been disloyal.