Walter Fauntroy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Walter Fauntroy
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| Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives from the District of Columbia's at-large district |
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| In office March 23, 1971 – January 3, 1991 |
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| Preceded by | Constituency reestablished |
| Succeeded by | Eleanor Holmes Norton |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Walter Edward Fauntroy
February 6, 1933 Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Dorothy Simms
(m. invalid year) |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Virginia Union University (BA) Yale University (BDiv) |
Walter Edward Fauntroy Jr. (born February 6, 1933) is an American pastor, a leader in the civil rights movement, and a politician. He served as the representative for Washington, D.C. in the United States House of Representatives from 1971 to 1991. He was one of the 13 people who helped start the Congressional Black Caucus.
Contents
Walter Fauntroy's Life Story
Early Years and School
Walter Fauntroy was born and grew up in Washington, D.C. He was the fourth of seven children. His father worked at the U.S. Patent Office, and his mother took care of their home. Walter lived in the Shaw community and went to the New Bethel Baptist Church nearby.
He was a very good student at Dunbar High School, graduating second in his class in 1951. His church helped him pay for college. He attended Virginia Union University in Richmond, Virginia, and graduated with honors in 1955. Later, he earned another degree from Yale Divinity School in 1958.
A Leader in Civil Rights
At Virginia Union University, Fauntroy met Martin Luther King Jr., who was also a Baptist minister. They became good friends. Fauntroy joined the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), a group that worked for civil rights. He became an important voice for civil rights in Congress.
Fauntroy helped organize the famous March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963. This was where Martin Luther King Jr. gave his "I Have a Dream" speech. Fauntroy also helped coordinate the Selma to Montgomery marches in 1965. These marches were important steps in the fight for equal rights.
After finishing his education, Fauntroy became the pastor of New Bethel Baptist Church. He believed that faith meant helping the community. He took part in many civil rights protests and marches.
President Lyndon Johnson chose him to be Vice Chairman of the White House Conference on Civil Rights in 1966. He also became Vice Chairman of the D.C. City Council in 1967.
Fauntroy also started an organization called the Model Inner City Community Organization (MICCO). This group used government money to improve neighborhoods in Washington, D.C. They worked with Black architects and planners to build homes, schools, and stores.
After Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, Fauntroy worked to keep people calm. He asked everyone to follow King's idea of nonviolence. He also spoke at King's funeral.
Serving in Congress
Before 1970, Washington, D.C., did not have a representative who could vote in Congress. In 1970, a law was passed to create a non-voting delegate position. Fauntroy decided to run for this job. With support from his church and Coretta Scott King, he won the election.
On March 23, 1971, Walter Fauntroy became the first delegate to represent Washington, D.C., in the United States House of Representatives in almost 100 years.
Even though he could not vote on the main House floor, he could vote in committees. He could also introduce new laws. Fauntroy became a key member of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC). He worked to help people in cities, the poor, and minority groups.
A main goal for Fauntroy was to get "home rule" for Washington, D.C. This meant letting the city elect its own mayor and city council. He helped pass a law that allowed this by 1973. He was re-elected five times, sometimes winning with a very large number of votes.
In Congress, he helped create the Congressional Black Caucus. He led the Caucus in 1981. They presented their own budget plan to the House of Representatives for the first time. He also worked on committees dealing with banking, money, and international development. For 15 years, he led a group focused on Haiti.
In 1984, Fauntroy helped start the Free South Africa Movement. This group protested against the unfair system of apartheid in South Africa. He was even arrested for protesting at the South African Embassy.
Running for President
Walter Fauntroy ran for president in the Democratic Party primary elections in 1972 and 1976. He ran as a "favorite son" candidate for Washington, D.C. A favorite son candidate is someone who runs in their home state to show support for their area.
In 1972, he won the D.C. primary. In 1976, he ran again but lost to Jimmy Carter, who later became president.
After Congress
In 1990, Fauntroy left Congress to run for mayor of Washington, D.C. He did not win, but he returned to his church, New Bethel Baptist Church. He continued his work as a pastor and helped his community.
He also started a consulting company. One of his first clients was Nelson Mandela's African National Congress (ANC). He worked to encourage U.S. businesses to invest in South Africa.
Fauntroy is also the president of the National Black Leadership Roundtable (NBLR). He founded this group in 1977. Through this group, he has worked on projects to help end extreme poverty in Africa. This includes working with the Millennium Villages Project in sub-Saharan Africa.
In 1993, Fauntroy was diagnosed with tuberculosis. He was treated and cured. He spoke publicly about his illness to help others understand it. He and his wife, Dorothy, also adopted a baby girl named Melissa Alice.
Views
Opposition to the Tea Party Movement
Walter Fauntroy believed the Tea Party movement was a racist political group. In 2010, he said that the Tea Party and the Ku Klux Klan were similar. He later said he meant to use the terms interchangeably.
Personal Life
Walter Fauntroy was married to Dorothy Simms. She passed away in June 2023. They had two children, Marvin Keith and Melissa Alice.
Awards and Honors
Walter Fauntroy has received many awards for his work. Both Virginia Union University and Yale University, where he studied, gave him honorary Doctor of Law Degrees. He also has honorary degrees from Howard University and Georgetown University Law Center.
In 1984, the National Urban Coalition gave him the Hubert H. Humphrey Humanitarian Award. This award honors people who do great work for humanity.
See also
