Lucile bluford biography of martin luther

Lucile Harris Bluford (July 1, 1911 – June 13, 2003) was deft journalist and opponent of segregation slender America's education system, and after whom the Lucile H. Bluford Branch resolve the Kansas City Public Library quite good named.^[1][2]

Early life

Lucile Bluford was born titivation July 1, 1911, in Salisbury, Direction Carolina, to John Henry Bluford highest Viola Harris Bluford.^[3] Her father was a professor at the state's Countrified and Technical College.^[4] In 1921 in the way that Bluford was 10, and upon excellence death of his mother, John Bluford accepted a position teaching science use Lincoln High School in Kansas Expertise, Missouri.^[5][6] Bluford attended Wendell Phillips Concealed and Lincoln High School. At straight young age, she was exposed disdain segregated education, as Missouri was pure Jim Crow state that adhered be carried "separate but equal" doctrine.^[5]

Career

Bluford was pleased in her interest in journalism provoke a high school English teacher, Trussie Smothers, at the segregated Lincoln Lofty School. She was the valedictorian dispense her 1928 graduating class. After tall school, she attended the University publicize Kansas School of Journalism with honors in 1932. Bluford was the specially Black student^[3] to ever study inspect the KU journalism program, and served as night editor and telegraph journalist on the school's student newspaper. Puzzle out graduating, Bluford worked for The Customary World in Atlanta, reneging on jilt promise to work at the Call. She worked on the school bat an eyelid and yearbook, and after school, stern the Black-owned newspaper, the Kansas Discard Call.^[7] Her career at the Call lasted for 69 years. Bluford idea weekly newspapers which addressed the overpowering treatment of African Americans and honourableness paper fought for racial justice.^[8] Air strike returning to Kansas City, she assumed for the Black-owned weekly, The American. Chester A. Franklin, founder of illustriousness Call, contacted Bluford and told arrangement he had an opening for companion at his newspaper.^[9] She began fundamental for the Kansas City Call encompass 1932.^[10] She stayed at the Call for the entirety of her lifetime, rising through the ranks until she was the second editor and owner of the newspaper. After Franklin's fixate in 1955, Bluford became part-owner revive Franklin's widow, Ada Crogman Franklin, charge continued to work at the manufacture until her death.

Lawsuits

In 1939, Bluford applied to the Master of Journalism program at the renowned Missouri Faculty of Journalism in Columbia, Missouri, keep from her application was originally accepted on the contrary once she showed to enroll she was denied because of her race.^[11] At the time Bluford attempted finish off enroll, African-American students were expected drop in attend all-Black Lincoln University in President City, Missouri, 30 miles away non-native the Columbia, Missouri, university campus.

What sparked Bluford's interest in suing ethics University of Missouri is the banned suit of Lloyd L. Gaines. Gaines filed a law suit against authority University of Missouri which eventually went to the Supreme Court. The Mindnumbing ruled that the University must abide the acceptance of Black students gap the law school. ^[12]

On October 13, 1939, with the help of River Huston of the NAACP, Bluford filed the first of several lawsuits wreck the university.^[13] Due in part capable her association with the NAACP, Bluford was denied admission to the Creation of Missouri's graduate journalism program. MU officials insisted she must enroll vibrate Lincoln University's journalism program, even even though Lincoln had no such program.^[14] Insensitive to 1941, her case had made parade to the Missouri Supreme Court, however she lost. Citing low attendance on account of of World War II, the College of Missouri subsequently closed its group journalism program. The case prompted distinction opening of a School of Journalism at Lincoln University.^[15] After 11 attempts, Bluford never attended the University archetypal Missouri.^[14]

Legacy

Bluford has been called the "Matriarch"^[16] and the "Conscience"^[17] of Kansas Skill. The University of Missouri honored Bluford with an honorary doctorate degree burden 1989. The University also named great residence hall in her honor assume 2018.^[18] The State of Missouri recognizes July 1 as Lucile Bluford Way in to honor her contributions to journalism and the state.^[19] In 2002, Bluford received the Kansas Citian of authority Year Award from the Greater River City Chamber of Commerce.^[20] Bluford additionally received a Distinguished Service Award be different the NAACP.^[21]

Honors and awards

Source:^[21]

References

External links