Margie Duty facts for kids

Margie Annette Hawkins Duty (born August 28, 1922 – died April 23, 2001) was an amazing African American law enforcement officer. She made history by becoming the very first black woman to join the police force in Houston, Texas.

Margie Duty: A Pioneer Police Officer

Her Early Life and Journey to Houston

Margie Duty was born in Jennings, Louisiana. In December 1945, she married Nathaniel Duty in Shreveport. Nathaniel later joined the military. He was stationed at Ellington Air Force Base near Houston. Because of this, the couple moved to Houston. Before becoming a police officer, Margie worked for the Houston Housing Authority.

Breaking Barriers in Law Enforcement

Margie Duty started her police training in Houston in July 1953. At that time, she was not able to attend the regular police academy in Houston. When she joined, there were already three black male officers on the force. This made her the fourth African American officer and the first black woman.

She was assigned to the Juvenile Division. This department dealt with young people. In this division, there were fewer problems with unfair treatment compared to other police departments. However, there were still some differences. For example, the Juvenile Division had two separate lists for how long officers had worked there: one for white officers and one for black officers. There were also separate bathrooms and water fountains for black and white officers.

Her Career and Legacy

Margie Duty worked in the Juvenile Division for twenty-three years. She was a plainclothes officer, meaning she did not wear a uniform every day. After that, she worked for eleven years in the jail.

Margie Duty retired from the police department in 1986. She passed away on April 23, 2001. She was buried in the Houston National Cemetery. Margie Duty is remembered for her courage and for opening doors for other women and African Americans in law enforcement.