John L. LeFlore facts for kids

John L. LeFlore (1903–1976) was an important leader in the civil rights movement and a politician in Mobile, Alabama. He worked hard to bring people together, especially by helping to end segregation. Segregation was when Black and White people were kept separate in schools, buses, and other public places.

LeFlore started the local chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in 1925. He led this group for many years. When Alabama stopped the NAACP from operating in 1956, LeFlore helped create a new group called the Non-Partisan Voting League.

He worked as the director of casework for this new league from 1959 until he passed away. During this time, he helped with two major lawsuits that went all the way to the United States Supreme Court. One case was about how city leaders were chosen in Mobile (Mobile v Bolden). The other case helped desegregate schools in Mobile County (Birdie Mae Davis v. Board of Commissioners of Mobile County).

In 1974, LeFlore was elected to Alabama's House of Representatives. He died while serving his term.

Early Life and Activism

John L. LeFlore was born and grew up in Mobile, Alabama. He went to local schools that were only for Black students because of segregation laws. As an adult, he got a job with the U.S. Postal Service. This was seen as a good and stable job at the time.

In 1925, LeFlore started the local chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). He led this group for many decades. The NAACP worked to improve civil rights for the Black community. This meant fighting for equal treatment and opportunities for everyone.

Forming the Non-Partisan Voting League

In 1956, the state of Alabama forced the NAACP to stop its work there. This was part of a movement called Massive resistance, which tried to stop school desegregation. But LeFlore and other leaders in Mobile did not give up. That same year, they started a new group called the Non-Partisan Voting League (NPVL). This group continued the fight for civil rights. One of its main goals was to encourage people to vote for good leaders in elections.

In 1957, LeFlore introduced "pink sheets." These sheets gave information about candidates running in city elections. They also showed which candidates the NPVL supported. The NPVL recommended Joseph N. Langan to be a city commissioner. Langan had already agreed to work with LeFlore to improve civil rights in Mobile. Langan served four terms as commissioner. He continued to work with LeFlore on important issues. These issues included voting rights, hiring Black people for city jobs, and opening public places to everyone.

Leading the Fight for Equality

From 1959 until he died, LeFlore was the director of casework for the NPVL. He looked into social problems and started court cases to fix them. He also spoke for the organization. During this time, the NPVL worked on many important things:

• They pushed for more Black people to be hired in city government jobs.
• They sued to desegregate Mobile's public schools. This happened after the U.S. Supreme Court's Brown v. Board of Education ruling in 1954, which said school segregation was illegal.
• They asked the U.S. Department of Justice to make sure all public places were open to everyone.
• They organized big campaigns to help many African Americans register to vote. This helped more Black citizens take part in politics.

In 1974, LeFlore was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives. He was a member of the Democratic Party. This was nearly ten years after the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was passed. This law helped more African Americans vote and get involved in politics in the South. LeFlore served in the House until he passed away in 1976.

Changing Mobile's Government

In 1975, the NPVL started a legal challenge against Mobile's city government. At the time, Mobile had a city commission form of government. Three commissioners were elected by at-large voting. This meant that all voters in the city voted for all three positions. The NPVL argued that this system made it hard for the African-American minority to elect leaders they wanted.

After a long court battle, voters in Mobile approved a new government system in 1985. This new system included a mayor and a city council. Elections were then held for seven city council seats. These seats were from single-member districts. This meant each district elected its own representative. For the first time, three African Americans were elected to city government positions. The mayor was still elected by all voters for a four-year term.

Legacy and Honors

• LeFlore's important papers are kept at the University of South Alabama. The papers of the NPVL are also there.
• A statue of John L. LeFlore and Joseph Langan was put up in August 2009. City officials dedicated it at Unity Point Park in Mobile. It honors their work together to advance civil rights in the city.
• LeFlore Magnet High School, located in the Toulminville neighborhood of Mobile, was named in his honor.
• Rue de Le Flore, a street in the Toulminville neighborhood, was also named after him.