Lawrence Aaron Nixon facts for kids

Lawrence Aaron Nixon (born February 9, 1883 – died March 6, 1966) was a medical doctor who lived in El Paso, Texas. He is famous for bravely challenging state laws that tried to stop African-Americans from voting in important elections. He took his fight all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court not once, but twice! Because he was African-American, he was never allowed to join the local medical society in El Paso.

Lawrence Aaron Nixon: A Champion for Voting Rights

Early Life and Becoming a Doctor

Lawrence Nixon was born in Marshall, Texas. He went to Wiley College in Marshall. Later, he earned his degree as a medical doctor (M.D.) in 1906 from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee.

After finishing his studies, Dr. Nixon started his medical practice in Cameron, Texas. In 1909, he moved to El Paso, where he continued his work as a doctor.

Fighting for Fair Elections

In Texas during Dr. Nixon's time, there were laws designed to prevent African-Americans from voting in primary elections. Primary elections are important because they choose which candidates will run for each political party. The Democratic Party was very powerful in Texas back then.

The First Big Win: Nixon v. Herndon

In 1923, a new law called the Terrell Election Law was passed. This law made it impossible for Dr. Nixon and other African-Americans to vote in the Democratic Party primary. Dr. Nixon decided to fight this unfair law.

With help from the NAACP, he filed a lawsuit. This case went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1927. It was known as Nixon v. Herndon. Dr. Nixon won this case! The Supreme Court said the Texas law was against the rules.

A New Challenge: Nixon v. Condon

Even after Dr. Nixon's victory, the Texas Legislature quickly passed a new law. This new law tried to achieve the same unfair result: stopping African-Americans from voting in primaries. Once again, Dr. Nixon was not allowed to cast his ballot.

He didn't give up. He took his fight back to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1932 in a case called Nixon v. Condon. And again, he won! The Supreme Court ruled that these restrictions were specifically targeting African-American voters. They said these laws violated the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees equal protection under the law.

His Legacy

Dr. Nixon was married twice. His first wife, Esther Calvin, passed away in 1919. He later married Drusilla Tandy Nixon in 1935. He had four children. Dr. Lawrence Aaron Nixon passed away in 1966 due to a car accident. His brave actions helped pave the way for fairer voting rights for all Americans.

See also

• Smith v. Allwright
• White Municipal Party