Reginald Hawkins facts for kids

Reginald Armistice Hawkins (1923–2007) was an important American leader who worked for equal rights for everyone. He was also a dentist. He made history as the first African-American person to run for Governor of North Carolina. Reginald Hawkins worked hard to end segregation (keeping people of different races apart) in schools and businesses in Charlotte.

Early Life and Education

Reginald Hawkins was born in Beaufort, North Carolina, in 1923. He served as a captain in the U.S. Army during World War II. After his time in the army, he graduated from Johnson C. Smith University in 1943. He also joined the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity there.

He then earned a degree in dentistry from Howard University in 1948. Later, he returned to Charlotte and continued his studies. He earned a Bachelor's degree in 1956 and a Master of Divinity degree in 1973 from the Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary. While he was in dental school, he married Catherine Richardson, who also went to Johnson C. Smith University. They had four children together.

Fighting for Civil Rights

Reginald Hawkins was a strong voice for civil rights. He sometimes had different ideas than other groups, like the NAACP, about the best way to end school segregation.

Helping Students Integrate Schools

Hawkins believed that direct action and using media attention could help people get involved. He famously said, "The only way to move forward is to engage bigots in direct controversy within their own community."

To show his point, on September 4, 1957, Hawkins walked with Dorthy Counts, a young Black girl, to Harding High School. This was a white school in Charlotte. They faced insults and spit as they walked, but they helped integrate the first school in Mecklenburg County. This brave action made Hawkins well-known across the country. He became a leading civil rights activist in Charlotte.

In 1961, Hawkins led a boycott at Irwin Avenue Junior High School. He encouraged African-American students to stay home. He felt the school offered a lower quality education.

Starting MOPA

Because he had different ideas from the NAACP, Hawkins left the group in 1958. He then started his own organization called the Mecklenburg Organization for Political Affairs (MOPA). MOPA worked with community activists in the African-American community. They called for an end to segregation.

MOPA members took part in marches, picketing, protests, boycotts, and sit-ins. These events often happened near schools or hospitals in Charlotte. Hawkins's work helped successfully integrate many restaurants downtown. This included restaurants in department stores like Belk's and Ivey's.

Desegregating Hospitals

In 1962, Hawkins took legal action against the North Carolina Dental Society. He did this because they would not let him practice dentistry at Charlotte Memorial Hospital. He often led demonstrations outside hospitals in Charlotte, including Mercy, Charlotte Memorial, Presbyterian, and Good Samaritan hospitals. These protests often got a lot of attention from the news.

Hawkins also wrote to Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy. He explained that the hospitals were breaking their rules about not discriminating. These rules were part of the conditions for them to get money from the government. By the end of 1962, the Department of Health told Memorial Hospital to desegregate its maternity and dentistry wards. Hawkins continued to protest until 1963, when the hospital announced that all patients were welcome.

Bombings in Charlotte

On November 22, 1965, four bombs exploded in Charlotte within about 15 minutes. Hawkins's home was hit. The homes of Kelly Alexander Sr., who was president of the NAACP, Fred Alexander, the first African-American City Councilman, and Julius L. Chambers, a civil rights lawyer, were also hit.

These bombings got a lot of attention from local news. They made Charlotte seem like other cities that had experienced violence, such as Birmingham and Jackson. No one was ever arrested for the bombings, even though there was a statewide search. The FBI still has an open file on the event. Many people believe the bombings were a reaction to the efforts to end segregation that these four men were involved in.

Hawkins also helped organize the famous March on Washington in 1963. He was a good friend of Martin Luther King Jr.. King was supposed to visit Charlotte and speak at one of Hawkins's campaign events. However, he changed his plans and went to Memphis instead, where he was sadly assassinated a few days later.

Running for Governor

In 1968, Hawkins announced he would run for governor of North Carolina. His political actions had gained him many friends, but also some people who disagreed with him. He lost the Democratic primary election to Robert W. Scott. Hawkins received 18.52% of the votes in that race.

He ran for governor again in 1972. He lost in the Democratic primary again, winning 8.16% of the votes.

Throughout his life, Reginald Hawkins strongly supported equal rights and integration. He continued his work, giving speeches and calling for change, until he passed away in 2007.