William D. Chappelle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William D. Chappelle
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| Born |
William David Chappelle
November 16, 1857 |
| Died | June 15, 1925 (aged 67) |
| Occupation | Bishop, President of Allen University |
| Children | W. D. Chappelle Jr. |
| Relatives | William David Chappelle III (grandson) Dave Chappelle (great-grandson) |
William David Chappelle (born November 16, 1857 – died June 15, 1925) was an important American leader. He was an educationalist, meaning he worked to improve education. He was also a bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, a Christian church founded by and for African Americans.
Chappelle was the president of Allen University, a special university in Columbia, South Carolina. This university is known as a historically Black university because it was created to provide higher education for African American students. He led the university from 1897 to 1899. Later, he was the chairman of its board of trustees from 1916 to 1925.
William Chappelle's Early Life
William Chappelle was born in 1857 in Winnsboro, South Carolina. At that time, many African Americans were enslaved, and William was born into slavery. He was one of eleven children born to Henry and Patsy McCory Chappelle.
Standing Up for Rights
William Chappelle became a bishop and a strong voice for his community. On March 13, 1918, he led a group of bishops from the African Methodist Episcopal Church. They went to the White House to meet with President Woodrow Wilson.
Their visit was very important. They wanted to protest the unfair treatment and violence against Black people. Many African Americans were moving from the Southern states to the North in what was called the Great Migration. Sadly, this time also saw a rise in violence and mob attacks against them. Bishop Chappelle and his group spoke out against these injustices. However, President Wilson did not take action to stop the violence.
His Family and Lasting Impact
After his first wife passed away, William Chappelle married Rosina C. Palmer. Rosina was also an important person. As a young woman, she wrote an essay for a collection of writings by African American authors. These essays aimed to encourage young African Americans to be hardworking, self-controlled, and religious.
Rosina's father, Robert John Palmer, was also a notable figure. He was one of the Black lawmakers in South Carolina during the Reconstruction era. This was a time after the Civil War when efforts were made to rebuild the Southern states and give rights to formerly enslaved people.
One of William Chappelle's sons was W. D. Chappelle, Jr.. He became a doctor and surgeon. Around 1915, he opened the People's Infirmary in Columbia, South Carolina. This was a small hospital and surgery clinic. At that time, segregation laws meant that many African Americans could not easily get healthcare. Dr. Chappelle Jr.'s hospital helped many people in need.
William Chappelle's family continued to make an impact. His grandson was William David Chappelle III. His great-grandson is the famous stand-up comedian Dave Chappelle.
