T. J. Jemison facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
T. J. Jemison
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Jemison in 1983
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| Born | August 1, 1918 Selma, Alabama, U.S.
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| Died | November 15, 2013 (aged 95) Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S.
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| Resting place | Green Oaks Memorial Park in Baton Rouge |
| Alma mater | Alabama State University New York University |
| Occupation | Clergyman, civil rights activist |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Widower since 2010 |
| Children | Diane Jemison Pollard Bettye Wagner |
Theodore Judson Jemison (born August 1, 1918 – died November 15, 2013) was often called T. J. Jemison. He was a very important leader in the civil rights movement. He served as the president of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. from 1982 to 1994. This is the largest religious group for African Americans in the United States.
Jemison helped build the Baptist World Center in Nashville, Tennessee. This building became the main office for his convention. In 1953, he led the first boycott against unfair seating rules on buses in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. This boycott helped inspire the famous Montgomery Bus Boycott in Alabama a few years later. Jemison also helped start the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in 1957. This group was very important in the fight for civil rights.
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Early Life and Education
T. J. Jemison was born in 1918 in Selma, Alabama. His father, Reverend David V. Jemison, was a pastor at Tabernacle Baptist Church. T. J. came from a family with many respected ministers and strong church members. He went to public schools in Selma that were separated by race at the time.
Jemison earned a bachelor's degree from Alabama State University. This was a college mainly for black students in Montgomery, Alabama. He then studied to become a minister at Virginia Union University in Richmond, Virginia. Later, he continued his studies at New York University in New York City.
Leading the Way in Civil Rights
In 1949, Jemison became a minister at Mt. Zion First Baptist Church in Baton Rouge. He worked on building a new church and raising money for it. At this time, his father was the president of the National Baptist Convention.
Soon, Jemison became involved in the fight for civil rights. By 1950, all buses in Baton Rouge were run by one company. These buses had segregated seating by law. Black passengers had to sit at the back or stand, even if front seats for white people were empty. Jemison felt this was very unfair and cruel.
African Americans made up 80 percent of bus riders. They were tired of standing while empty seats were available. In January 1953, bus fares also increased. Reverend Jemison spoke to the Baton Rouge City Council about these issues. He asked them to stop reserving so many seats for white passengers.
The city council passed a new rule, Ordinance 222. It said that passengers could sit in any empty seat, first-come, first-served. However, bus drivers often ignored this rule. They still tried to make black passengers sit in the back.
To test the new rule, Jemison sat in a front seat on a bus in June 1953. The bus company then suspended two drivers for not following the rule. The drivers' union went on strike for four days. This strike ended when the state's Attorney General said the city's new rule was against state segregation laws.
Reverend Jemison then organized a network of free rides. Churches helped coordinate these rides for black citizens. This was a key part of the boycott. The Baton Rouge boycott lasted only eight days. But it became a very important example for future civil rights protests.
Most black bus riders stopped using the buses. Within three days, the buses were almost empty. Reverend Jemison ended the boycott after leaders reached a deal with the city council. The new rule allowed first-come, first-served seating. It also set aside the first two seats for white passengers and the back bench for black passengers. Other rows in the middle could be used by anyone. However, black and white passengers could not sit next to each other.
This boycott model in Baton Rouge was later used for the year-long Montgomery bus boycott in 1955. Martin Luther King Jr. said that Jemison's detailed description of the Baton Rouge experience was very helpful.
Leading the National Baptist Convention
Jemison was chosen as president of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. in 1982. He served in this role until 1994. His biggest achievement was building the Baptist World Center in Nashville, Tennessee. This building became the main office for the convention.
During his time as president, he also spoke out on important issues. He disagreed with the idea of Clarence Thomas becoming a judge on the Supreme Court of the United States. He also spoke against the United States getting involved in the Gulf War.
Honoring a Legacy
In June 2003, Baton Rouge celebrated the 50th anniversary of the bus boycott. There were three days of events to honor the boycott and its participants. A young resident named Marc Sternberg helped organize these events. He said, "Before Dr. King had a dream, before Rosa Parks kept her seat, and before Montgomery took a stand, Baton Rouge played its part."
In 2007, Mt. Zion First Baptist Church started the annual T. J. Jemison Race Relations Award. This award honors his work. The first award went to Jesse Bankston, a politician from Baton Rouge.
His Final Years
T. J. Jemison passed away in Baton Rouge when he was ninety-five years old. His body was placed at the Louisiana State Capitol on November 22, 2013. This was the 50th anniversary of the assassination of John F. Kennedy. His funeral services were held the next day.
Many people spoke at his funeral. Lieutenant Governor Jay Dardenne said that Jemison's most important role was leading his church. Attorney General Buddy Caldwell compared Jemison's life to the Statue of Liberty. He said Jemison "gave us a torch to light the way."
U.S. Representative Cedric Richmond said that he and other African-American lawmakers were helped by Jemison's hard work. He read a statement from U.S. President Barack Obama. President Obama said Jemison was part of a generation that pushed the nation towards fairness and equality for everyone.
Jemison was buried in Green Oaks Memorial Park in Baton Rouge. In March 2017, he was honored by being added to the Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame. He was recognized for his important work in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and as a pastor.
