Simpson Charles Younger facts for kids

Simpson Charles Younger (born May 17, 1850 – died May 14, 1943) was an amazing American. He was a baseball player, a soldier in the Union Army during the American Civil War, a fighter for Civil Rights, and a poet. As an African American, he was one of the youngest soldiers to join the Union Army. He was also one of the last soldiers from that war to still be alive many years later.

Early Life and Freedom

Simpson Charles Younger was born in 1850. His father was Charles Lee Younger. His mother, Elizabeth, was enslaved by his father. When his father passed away in 1854, his will made sure that Simpson and his sister became free. This act of making someone free from slavery is called "manumission." After gaining their freedom, Simpson and his sister were sent to study at Oberlin College.

Baseball Star

Simpson Charles Younger loved baseball. He was a talented pitcher for Oberlin College. A pitcher is the player who throws the ball to the batter. After college, he played for several other teams. These included the Penfields, the Resolutes, and an all-black professional team called the Zulus.

Playing on an Integrated Team

In 1868, Younger played for the Resolutes. This team was made up of the best players from two other clubs. Simpson Younger was the only black player on the Resolutes. This made them the only "integrated" team in their area, the Western Reserve. An integrated team means it had players of different races playing together. At that time, people sometimes used the term "quadroon" to describe someone with one-quarter African ancestry.

Fighting for Civil Rights

Simpson Younger was also a brave fighter for Civil Rights. These are the basic rights and freedoms that all people should have. He once sued a theater because they would not let him and a friend sit in certain seats. This happened because they were black.

The Missouri Supreme Court Case

Younger's case went all the way to the Missouri Supreme Court. This is the highest court in the state of Missouri. In 1892, the court ruled against Younger. The judges said that it was okay to have "separate but equal" facilities. This meant that places could be separate for black and white people, as long as they were supposedly equal. This rule was common even after the Fourteenth Amendment was added to the U.S. Constitution. The Fourteenth Amendment was meant to give equal protection under the law to all citizens.

Later Years

Simpson Charles Younger lived a long and full life. He passed away on May 14, 1943. He was just a few days shy of his 93rd birthday. At the time of his death, he had eight children who were still living.