Harrison J. Pinkett facts for kids

Harrison J. Pinkett (1882 – July 19, 1960) was an important person who worked as a journalist (someone who writes for newspapers) and a civil rights activist. He lived in Washington DC and later became a lawyer in Omaha, Nebraska. As a journalist, he led a group called the "Press Bureau." He often wrote under the special name "P.S. Twister."

In 1907, friends from the NAACP suggested he move to Omaha. There, he worked a lot on civil rights issues. He also served as a first lieutenant in the 92nd Infantry Division during World War I. He often stood up for the rights of black soldiers.

Early Life and Education

Harrison J. Pinkett was born in Luray, Virginia, in the Shenandoah Valley, in 1882. His father, Charles Pinkett, was a veteran of the American Civil War. His mother was Columbia Kemper. Harrison had fifteen brothers and sisters.

His father worked as a wagon maker. Harrison's brother, Archibald, also became a lawyer. Archibald was the Secretary of the NAACP branch in Washington DC.

Harrison and Archibald both studied at Howard University Law School and finished in 1906. Harrison also studied at Columbia University. In Washington DC, Pinkett worked as a bricklayer and a printer. He also worked as a journalist trainee at the Pioneer Press newspaper.

Journalist and Activist Work

While at Howard University, Pinkett was very active in student groups. He was part of the Blackstone Club and the Richards Debating Club. He was also the secretary of the Bethel Literary and Historical Society.

In 1905, Pinkett was the secretary for the first meeting of the Niagara Society in Washington, DC. This group was important for early civil rights efforts.

In January 1907, Pinkett became a lawyer in DC. He wrote many articles for black newspapers. He managed a group called the Press Bureau and used the special writing name "P.S. Twister." He often criticized other black leaders and even the president of Howard University. He felt they were too connected to rich business people.

After a while, he stopped writing under "P.S. Twister." Black leaders asked him to practice law in Omaha. He moved there in 1908 and was the first university-trained lawyer in Nebraska. Even after moving, he stayed connected to DC. A famous civil rights leader, W. E. B. Du Bois, visited Pinkett in Omaha in 1908.

Working as a Lawyer in Omaha

When Pinkett arrived in Omaha, he was one of only four black lawyers. He worked on important cases. For example, he helped black soldiers who were wrongly accused in the 1906 Brownsville Affair. This event falsely blamed soldiers for a disturbance in Brownsville, Texas.

Pinkett also spoke out against a mob riot in 1909 called the Greek Town riot. In 1911, he supported the new governor, Chester Hardy Aldrich. The governor claimed there was fraud in an election in Omaha. Pinkett's support put him against a powerful political boss named Tom Dennison.

In 1916, Pinkett also helped with campaigns to make Douglass County a "dry county." This meant that alcohol would be banned there during the Prohibition Era.

Not everyone in the black community agreed with Pinkett. He spoke out against places that sold alcohol illegally. He wanted laws to be enforced more strictly. He worked for a newspaper called The Monitor and started his own short-lived newspaper, A New Era, in 1921.

Service in World War I

Pinkett was very patriotic. Before the United States joined World War I, he wrote a letter to the Omaha World Herald newspaper. He supported the war and encouraged black people to join the military. Pinkett himself enlisted and became a first lieutenant. He was one of five officers from Omaha.

Pinkett finished his training at Fort Des Moines in October 1917. He then joined the 366th Infantry in the 92nd Infantry Division. He arrived in France in June 1918. He trained for six weeks and then went to the Vosges sector, where he saw active combat. He also fought in the Argonne and Metz sectors.

He was in the Metz sector when the war ended on November 11, 1918. He believed his soldiers fought bravely. He noted that his group received 22 of the 32 special medals given to the 92nd division. Pinkett remembered the moment the war ended: "The colored boys under me laid down their rifles, and the Germans did the same. They rushed across the clearing that separated them and embraced with joy."

Near the end of the war, Pinkett wrote articles from France. He supported creating a national cemetery there. Pinkett returned to the US in March 1919 and was discharged from the army. He came back to Omaha soon after.

Civil Rights Work and Community Leadership

The Omaha NAACP group was started in 1918. After World War I, Pinkett and Father John Albert Williams became its leaders. In May 1919, W. E. B. Du Bois spoke to the group.

During a time of violence in 1919, called the Red Summer, Pinkett and the NAACP worked to stop problems. When a local newspaper, the Omaha Bee, published a story that made things worse, the Omaha NAACP held a protest rally with over 600 people.

Pinkett believed in stronger policing for both black and white communities. He also protested against unfair police treatment and harassment of black people and black-owned businesses.

Pinkett also continued to be involved with Howard University. He worked to remove John Stanley from being the president of the university. His strong opinions sometimes caused trouble. In 1927, Pinkett was attacked by a man because of his work against gambling.

Pinkett worked with other black leaders, like Father John Albert Williams, to create Omaha's Colored Commercial Club. This club supported black businesses in Omaha. Even though he was usually a Republican, he also supported the Negro Democratic Club.

He was a very important part of the Omaha NAACP. He spoke out strongly against a newspaper publishing remarks from a KKK leader. He also continued to work with veterans and was an officer in the American Legion.

Later in his life, Pinkett often gave talks about African American history. He stayed involved with community groups. In 1933 and 1936, Pinkett ran for city commissioner but did not win. He continued to write letters to newspapers supporting civil rights. He also worked as a defense attorney and as a lawyer for the NAACP in Omaha until he passed away in 1960.

Writings

• H.J. Pinkett, An Historical Sketch of the Omaha Negro (1937).