John Hulett facts for kids
John Hulett (born November 19, 1927 – died August 21, 2006) was an important American leader. He fought for civil rights, served as a sheriff, and later became a judge. He was a key figure in the civil rights movement in Lowndes County, Alabama, USA. Hulett also started the Lowndes County Christian Movement for Human Rights. In 1966, he was the first leader of the Lowndes County Freedom Organization (LCFO), which was also known as the original Black Panther Party.
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Fighting for Equal Rights
In 1948, John Hulett left his family farm in Gordonville, Lowndes County. He started working in a factory that made stoves. At work, Black employees were paid less than white employees. This unfair treatment led Hulett to join a workers' union. He also joined the Alabama NAACP. The NAACP was a group that worked for equal rights for Black people.
Hulett helped the NAACP by encouraging Black Americans to register to vote. When the NAACP was banned in Alabama, Hulett joined a new group called the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights. This group was started by Fred Shuttlesworth.
Bringing Change to Lowndes County
In 1959, Hulett returned home to help his sick father. He also brought the civil rights movement to Lowndes County. At that time, 81 percent of the people in the county were Black, but not a single Black person was registered to vote. Hulett organized meetings and talked to his Black neighbors about the importance of voting.
In March 1965, John Hulett and a preacher named John C. Lawson made history. They became the first two Black voters in Lowndes County in over 60 years! By the summer of 1965, when the Voting Rights Act became law, at least 50 Black people had registered to vote.
Starting the Black Panther Party in Alabama
After the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) came to Lowndes County in 1965, Hulett became a strong supporter. He later worked full-time for SNCC. Hulett was very important in creating the Lowndes County Freedom Organization (LCFO). He became the chairperson of LCFO.
Hulett explained that LCFO's symbol, a fierce black panther, showed the "strength and dignity of black demands today." He said the black panther is an animal that fights back when it's cornered. This symbol fit the Black community, who were fighting for their rights and power. In Lowndes County, the black panther stood for democracy. However, the symbol later took on a different meaning of "black power" when it was used by the Black Panther Party in Oakland. This new meaning was not exactly what Hulett and his group intended.
A Career in Politics
LCFO became an independent political party. In November 1966, they put forward twelve candidates for the county government election. By then, LCFO had helped 2,758 Black people in Lowndes County register to vote. John Hulett ran for county sheriff, but none of the LCFO candidates won that election.
Becoming Sheriff and Judge
However, Hulett was later elected as the county sheriff in 1970. He ran as a candidate for the National Democratic Party of Alabama. This victory was a huge step forward for the voting rights movement. Local residents no longer had to fear unfair treatment from the police. Hulett promised to treat both white and Black people with equal respect as sheriff. He wanted to help heal the county's past problems. He became a symbol of fairness and bringing people together.
John Hulett served as county sheriff for 22 years. After that, he became a probate judge for Lowndes County, serving three terms. He was the first Black person to hold both of these important positions in Lowndes County.
Other Important Work
Hulett believed that Black people's economic dependence on white people was a big problem. He thought it stopped them from fully participating in politics. Hulett worked closely with the "war on poverty" program. This program helped local Black residents gain more power and opportunities. He was also on the board of the Lowndes County Office of Equal Opportunity health program. This was the only board in the county that had both Black and white members.
Even though Hulett had once felt the Democratic Party was not a reliable friend, he joined the Democrats in late 1972. He supported George Wallace for governor. Hulett said he made this change to get funding for local programs. Money for social welfare programs in Lowndes County had been cut by President Richard Nixon.
Family Life
John Hulett's second wife was Eddie Mae Aaron. They had two daughters and one son. One of his sons from an earlier marriage, John Hulett Jr., also became a probate judge in Lowndes County.
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