Kelly Alexander Sr. facts for kids
Kelly Miller Alexander Sr. (born August 18, 1915 – died April 2, 1985) was an important leader and activist. He worked hard for civil rights, which means equal rights for all people. He was also the Chairman of the Board of Directors for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, often called the NAACP.
Kelly Alexander Sr. was born in Charlotte, North Carolina. His parents were Zechariah and Louise Alexander. His father owned the Alexander Funeral Home, which was the only funeral home for Black people in Charlotte at that time. Kelly Alexander played football in high school and was known as "Ship-wreck Kelly." He went to college at the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama and also studied in New York City. After his studies, he came back to Charlotte to help with his family's business.
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Leading the Way for Civil Rights
Kelly Alexander Sr. started his work with the NAACP in 1938. He joined the Charlotte branch of the organization. The NAACP is a group that works to make sure all people have equal rights and are treated fairly.
Building a Strong NAACP
In 1940, Kelly Alexander became the leader of the Charlotte NAACP branch. He helped it become a very strong group fighting for civil rights in the city. In 1948, he was chosen to be the president of the North Carolina State Conference of the NAACP. Under his leadership, he helped start many new NAACP groups across North Carolina. He stayed president until 1984. Because of his hard work, the North Carolina NAACP became the biggest state group in the country, with over 120 local branches.
Fighting for Equality in Charlotte
Kelly Alexander Sr. also tried to become a member of the Charlotte City Council twice in the 1950s, but he was not elected. As an activist in Charlotte, he worked to end segregation in restaurants and hotels. Segregation meant that Black people and white people were kept separate. He also supported a very important court case called Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education. This case, decided by the Supreme Court of the United States, said that busing students could be used to help integrate schools. Integrating schools meant bringing students of all races together in the same classrooms.
Standing Strong Against Challenges
In 1965, Kelly Alexander's home was one of four homes that were attacked. These attacks were done by someone trying to stop the civil rights movement in Charlotte. His brother, Frederick Alexander, and other civil rights leaders like Julius Chambers and Reginald Hawkins also had their homes attacked. Luckily, no one was hurt in these events.
National Leadership and Legacy
In 1950, Kelly Alexander was chosen to be on the National NAACP Board of Directors. This meant he helped lead the entire organization across the country. In 1976, he became the vice chairman. In 1983, the NAACP board asked him to become the acting chairman. He took on this important role and helped to reorganize the NAACP. Because of his dedication and leadership, his friends and co-workers often called him "Mr. NAACP."
Kelly Alexander Sr. passed away on April 2, 1985, when he was 69 years old. He left behind a strong legacy of fighting for equality. His two sons continued his work. Kelly Alexander Jr. later became president of the North Carolina Conference of the NAACP, and Alfred Alexander took over the family business.
