John Adams Sr. (Nebraska politician) facts for kids

John Adams Sr. (February 2, 1876 – April 21, 1962) was an important American leader. He was a minister, a lawyer, and a politician. He served in the Nebraska Legislature, which is a law-making group. Adams was born in Atlanta, Georgia. He worked as a lawyer and minister in several states before moving to Omaha, Nebraska.

While in South Carolina, he took a civil rights case to the U.S. Supreme Court. He was the only Black member of the Nebraska Legislature for most of his time there, from 1949 to 1962. He was an ordained minister in the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME). As a lawmaker, he strongly supported civil rights. He fought for fair job practices and for pensions for teachers who had retired.

John Adams Sr.: A Champion for Justice

Early Life and Education

John Adams Sr. was born on February 2, 1876, in Atlanta, Georgia. His parents were John and Belle Adams. On September 16, 1902, he married Hattie Edith Bowman in Wilmington, North Carolina.

Adams went to high school in Atlanta. He then attended several colleges. These included Lincoln University, Yale University, and Gammon Theological Seminary. He also earned a Masters of Arts degree from Campbell College in Jackson, Mississippi.

John and Hattie had three sons: John Jr., Harold S., and Ralph W. Later, John Jr. and Ralph joined their father in his law practice. John Adams Sr. passed away from a heart attack on April 21, 1962. Many important people, including the Governor, attended his funeral.

Fighting for Civil Rights

Even without formal law school training, Adams became a lawyer in South Carolina in the early 1900s. He practiced law in Orangeburg, South Carolina, with another Black lawyer named Jacob Moorer.

In 1908, Adams and Moorer helped a Black sharecropper named Pink Franklin. Franklin was accused of killing a white constable (a type of police officer). Adams and Moorer argued that Franklin acted in self-defense. They said the officer fired first, wounding Franklin and his wife.

The jury was made up of only white people. Franklin was found guilty and sentenced to death. Adams and Moorer appealed the decision. They argued that the jury selection was unfair because of race. They also questioned parts of South Carolina's constitution.

They lost in the state courts. Then, they took the case to the U.S. Supreme Court. They lost there too, in a case called Franklin v. South Carolina. This case became well-known across the country.

Because of the continued efforts of Adams, Moorer, and others, Franklin's sentence was changed. In 1919, he was released on parole. This case was only the second time Black lawyers had argued before the U.S. Supreme Court. After this, Adams moved to Washington State and then to Pueblo, Colorado, continuing his law practice. He moved to Omaha in 1922 and became a lawyer in Nebraska.

A Voice in the Legislature

John Adams Sr.'s son, John Adams Jr., was also a Nebraska State Legislator from 1935 to 1941. In 1942, John Jr. lost an election. In 1944, while John Jr. was serving in World War II, Adams Sr. decided to run for the same seat. He lost that election and another one in 1946.

However, in 1948, Adams Sr. won the election. He continued to win against his opponent in every election until 1962. As a legislator, he was a strong supporter of civil rights. He worked hard for fair job practices for everyone. He also fought for good pensions for retired teachers. Adams was also known for being against gambling. He strongly opposed making games like bingo legal.