James L. Farmer Sr. facts for kids
James Leonard Farmer Sr. (born June 12, 1886 – died May 14, 1961) was an important American writer, religious scholar, and teacher. People often called him J. Leonard Farmer. He served as a minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. He also taught about religious history and beliefs at universities.
Early Life and Education
James Leonard Farmer grew up in Kingstree, South Carolina. His parents, Carolina and Lorena (Wilson) Farmer, were farm workers and had been slaves. He had limited schooling in Georgia and Florida. However, he earned a scholarship to Boston University. There, he completed three degrees: a bachelor's degree, a master's degree in theology, and a doctorate.
Career
Farmer had two main jobs throughout his life: he was a minister and a university professor. He became an ordained minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.
He taught and guided students at several historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in the Southern United States. These included Huston-Tillotson and Wiley colleges in Texas. He also taught at Rust College in Mississippi. From 1939 to 1946, he worked at Howard University in Washington, DC. Later, he returned to Huston-Tillotson and became a dean until he retired in 1956. During his career, he was both a teacher and an administrator.
Marriage and Family
In 1917, James Farmer Sr. married Pearl Marion. They had two children, Helen Louise and James Farmer. Their son, James Farmer Jr., became a very famous leader in the Civil Rights Movement. He believed in peaceful action to bring about change. James Farmer Jr. helped start the Congress for Racial Equality (CORE). He also helped organize the important Freedom Rides in 1961.
In Popular Culture
- Parts of James Farmer Sr.'s life are shown in the movie The Great Debaters (2007). In the film, the actor Forest Whitaker plays the role of Farmer Sr.
