Orzell Billingsley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Orzell Billingsley
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| Born | October 24, 1924 Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.
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| Died | December 14, 2001 (aged 77) Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.
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| Occupation | Lawyer |
| Known for | One of the first ten blacks to be admitted to the Alabama State Bar |
Orzell Billingsley (born October 24, 1924 – died December 14, 2001) was an important American lawyer. He was one of the first ten African-American lawyers allowed to practice law in Alabama. He is best known for his work fighting for civil rights. He even helped Martin Luther King Jr. during the famous 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott.
Billingsley also helped start the Alabama Democratic Conference. This was the first group for African-American politics in Alabama that covered the whole state. He was also famous for defending a man named Caliph Washington for 15 years. This case helped stop the unfair practice of having only white people on juries in Alabama.
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Early Life and Learning
Orzell Billingsley was born in Birmingham, Alabama. He grew up there and went to local schools. After that, he studied at Talladega College. He then went to law school at Howard University.
He worked very hard to become a lawyer. He was one of the first ten African-American people to be accepted into the Alabama Bar. This meant he could practice law in Alabama.
Fighting for Justice
Orzell Billingsley opened his own law office in Birmingham. He spent many years working on civil rights cases. He often defended African Americans who were accused of crimes.
Ending Unfair Juries
One of his most famous cases was defending Caliph Washington. This man was wrongly accused of a crime. Billingsley worked on this case for 15 years. His dedication helped to change the law in Alabama. Because of this case, juries could no longer be made up of only white people. This was a big step towards fairness in the justice system.
Building Black Political Power
Billingsley was a co-founder of the Alabama Democratic Conference. This group was very important for African-American politics in Alabama. He was also a founding member of the Alabama Lawyers Association. This group supported Black lawyers.
He worked to make sure African Americans were treated with respect in court. Before his efforts, white lawyers and judges would often call Black people by their first names. Billingsley fought for them to be called by their proper full names and titles. He won this right, which was a big victory for dignity and respect. People sometimes called him the "black Patrick Henry of Alabama." This nickname showed how much he fought for freedom and rights.
Helping Communities Grow
Orzell Billingsley also helped many small towns in Alabama. These towns had mostly Black residents. He helped more than 20 of these towns become officially recognized. This helped them get more support and services.
Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson sometimes asked Billingsley for advice. They called him during the time of the Civil Rights Movement in Alabama. This shows how important and respected he was. Billingsley also worked as a lawyer for the National Democratic Party of Alabama (NDPA). He was even a delegate for the NDPA at a big political meeting in Chicago in 1968.
