Juanita Morrow Nelson facts for kids
Juanita Morrow Nelson (born August 17, 1923 – died March 9, 2015) was an American activist who worked for peace and fairness. She was known for refusing to pay taxes that would go towards war. This is called war tax resistance.
She helped start a group called Peacemakers in 1948. She also wrote a book called A Matter of Freedom and Other Writings.
Contents
Juanita Nelson's Life Story
Early Life and Activism
Juanita Nelson was born on August 17, 1923, in Cleveland, Ohio. Even when she was young, she believed in equal rights for everyone.
When she was 16, Juanita experienced unfair treatment on a train. Black passengers had to sit in crowded, dirty cars. Juanita bravely moved to the "white" cars, which were clean and comfortable. She sat in each one to show she was just as good as any other passenger. No one stopped her, and she felt proud for standing up for herself.
She later studied at Howard University. There, she joined the NAACP Youth Group. In 1943, she was arrested for trying to eat at a "whites-only" lunch counter in Washington, D.C. This was one of the first sit-in protests of the American Civil Rights Movement. These protests helped change unfair laws.
Juanita left Howard University in 1943. She then studied journalism at Western Reserve University and graduated in 1946.
Working for Change
After college, Juanita became an organizer for the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE). She helped start the CORE chapter in Cleveland, Ohio. She also worked to integrate, or open to everyone, the Euclid Beach Park amusement park.
In 1947, she moved to Chicago and continued her work with CORE. She worked for CORE until 1954.
In 1948, Juanita met Wally Nelson, who would become her lifelong partner. They both believed strongly in nonviolence and fairness. Together, they planned and took part in some of the first "Freedom Rides" in the late 1940s. These rides helped start the Civil Rights Movement.
War Tax Resistance
Juanita and Wally also began refusing to pay taxes that funded war. They believed it was wrong to support violence with their money. They joined Peacemakers, a group that started the modern war tax resistance movement in the United States.
They lived in a shared home with other activists in Ohio. Juanita was even jailed for the first time while protesting to integrate the Coney Island (Cincinnati, Ohio) amusement park.
In 1957, the Nelsons spent time at Koinonia Farm in Georgia. This was a racially integrated community, meaning people of all races lived there together. They continued to support this project for many years.
In 1959, Juanita became the first woman in modern times to be arrested for refusing to pay war taxes. She even went to court in her bathrobe! She was released the same day, and the government never collected the money they claimed she owed.
Simple Living and Community Support
Juanita and Wally chose to live a very simple life. They believed that the less money they spent, the less they would support systems tied to violence. They lived on very little money, often less than $4,000 a year. They built a small cabin without electricity or plumbing and grew most of their own food.
They also helped others. From 1989 to 1993, they helped a couple, Randy Kehler and Betsy Corner, resist the government trying to take their home because of war tax resistance.
Juanita and Wally Nelson received the Courage of Conscience Award. This award recognized their work as farmers, civil rights activists, and peace advocates. It honored their love, generosity, and service to social justice.
Juanita Nelson passed away on March 9, 2015, at the age of 91.
Juanita Nelson's Thoughts
Juanita Nelson shared many wise thoughts about freedom and conscience. Here are some of them:
- "Why am I going to jail? What does it matter if I put on my clothes? Is freedom more important than justice? What does freedom of the human spirit mean?"
- "We cannot avoid making decisions. We are not excused by following what someone else says. We decide to do that. And then we share in the results of our actions. The government is in Washington, but my conscience is in me. It cannot be voted out of office by one or a million others."
See also
- Tempered reaction: Tax-resister Juanita Nelson skeptical Greenfield [Massachusetts] Recorder 21 January 2009
Resources
- Juanita Nelson speaking on Economic Disarmament, or Nonviolent Economics: [1]
- Juanita Nelson index
- The Peace Abbey
- Juanita's oral history
- Juanita Morrow Nelson and Wallace F. Nelson Papers held by Swarthmore College Peace Collection
