Irma George Dixon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Irma George Dixon
Dixon in 1963
Delegate to the Maryland General Assembly for Baltimore City
In office 1959–1965
Personal details
Born	Irma George 1911
Died	June 30, 1965 Montebelio State Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland
Resting place	Arbutus Memorial Park, Baltimore, Maryland
Citizenship	United States
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	William B. Dixon
Alma mater	Morgan State University
Occupation	Teacher, politician

Irma George Dixon (born 1911 – died 1965) was an important teacher and politician from Maryland. In 1958, she and Verda Freeman Welcome made history. They became the first two African American women elected to the Maryland General Assembly. This was a big step for civil rights and representation.

Early Life and Education

Irma George was born in 1911 in Baltimore, Maryland. Her parents were Edward and Lillian George. She went to public schools in Baltimore. Later, she studied at Coppin Normal School. She then earned a degree in English from Morgan State College.

Irma started her career as a teacher. She taught elementary and junior high school in Baltimore for 15 years. In 1949, she stopped teaching. She then started her own small business. She sold dresses from her home. In 1950, she married William B. Dixon.

A Career in Politics

In 1958, Irma George Dixon was elected to the Maryland General Assembly's House of Delegates. She represented Baltimore City. This was a major achievement. She and Verda Freeman Welcome were the first two African American women to serve in the Maryland General Assembly.

Irma Dixon was a member of the Democratic Party. She served in the House of Delegates from 1960. She was re-elected for the 1964 term. She served until her death in 1965. She missed her final session because she was in the hospital.

Fighting for Fairness

Irma Dixon worked hard for equal rights. In 1962, she supported a bill. This bill aimed to stop racial discrimination in private jobs across Maryland. She believed everyone should have a fair chance.

She was a strong Democrat. In 1958, she chose not to join a group of only African American candidates. She wanted to support all Democratic candidates. She said that choosing candidates only by race was "segregation in its worst form."

Supporting Education

As a former teacher, Irma Dixon cared deeply about education. She suggested raising taxes to get more money for schools. She also pushed for a law to make kindergarten mandatory. This means all kids would have to start school in kindergarten. She famously said, "Today's truant is tomorrow's dropout." This law eventually passed.

She also fought for equal pay. She believed men and women should earn the same amount for the same work.

Connecting with People

Irma Dixon was known for staying in touch with the people she represented. She would give out postcards with her address already on them. She invited people to send her their concerns. This helped her understand what her community needed.

During the 1964 presidential election, Dixon helped with voter registration. She traveled along the East Coast for the Democratic National Committee. She encouraged people to register and vote.

She was also part of many groups. These included the NAACP and the YWCA. She worked with groups that helped people and fought for civil rights.

Later Life and Legacy

Irma George Dixon passed away on June 30, 1965. She had been sick for a long time. She is buried at Arbutus Memorial Park in Baltimore. Her husband, William B. Dixon, had passed away before her in 1963.

Irma George Dixon's work helped make Maryland a more fair and equal place. She opened doors for other women and African Americans in politics.