Jewell Mazique facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jewell Mazique
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Mazique in March 1943
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| Born |
Jewell Crawford
October 2, 1913
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| Died | September 18, 2007 (aged 93) Washington, D.C., United States
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| Education | Spelman College; Howard University |
| Occupation | Activist |
Jewell R. Mazique (born October 2, 1913 – died September 18, 2007) was an important activist. She worked to make things fairer for everyone. Jewell helped start a campaign called Capital Transit. This campaign aimed to end segregation on buses in Washington D.C. This meant that Black and white people could ride buses together.
She also wrote many articles for The Washington Afro-American newspaper. She wrote about important topics. These included how African nations were treated by the United Nations. She also wrote about how Black children were educated in D.C. schools. In 1945, she was part of the National Council for the Southern Negro Youth Congress. Some people thought this group had ties to communism.
In 1943, Jewell was featured in a U.S. Government photo series. These photos were taken by John Collier. They were supposed to show a typical day for a Black woman in Washington D.C. At the time, she worked at the Library of Congress.
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Jewell Mazique's Education
Jewell Mazique was a very educated person. She graduated from Spelman College. She then earned a master's degree in African Studies from Howard University. For her master's thesis, she studied the development of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. This shows her interest in African history and politics.
Her Personal Life
Jewell Mazique married Edward Craig Mazique in 1937. They later separated in 1961 and divorced in 1965. They had two sons, Edward and Jeffrey.
Breaking Barriers for Her Son
Their son, Jeffrey, made history in 1956. He was the first Black child to attend kindergarten at the Sidwell Friends School. This was a big step towards ending segregation in schools. Because of this, Senator James O. Eastland removed his own son from the school. Senator Eastland was against integration.
Jewell's Focus on Social Causes
Jewell Mazique cared more about social causes than about social events. She once said in an interview: "The frills of social life hold no charms for me." She explained that she was more interested in what political leaders decided about their colonies. She found this more important than what fashion designers decided women should wear. This shows her strong dedication to making the world a better place.
Her Divorce Case
Jewell Mazique decided her marriage to Edward could not continue. Edward started divorce proceedings. He claimed she had deserted him. Jewell hired several lawyers. But she eventually decided to argue her own case in court.
Her divorce became very public. At one point, Jewell's friends showed their support. They stood with signs outside a hotel in Washington. One sign read: "Let Not Justice Be Rationed to Jewell R. Mazique in Domestic Relations Court." Her friends also wrote to newspapers and formed a committee to support her.
Despite her strong efforts, the court ruled in her husband's favor. Jewell appealed the case, especially about the money. She argued that the court was unfair to women. She lost her appeal in 1965. Jewell kept her children, and Edward agreed to pay for their care. Both of her sons later became doctors.
