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Althea T. L. Simmons

October 31, 2023

Althea T. L. Simmons (April 17, 1924 - September 13, 1990)[1] was a civil rights activist and attorney with the NAACP for over 35 years.[2] Simmons was the head of the NAACP's Washington D.C. office and its chief lobbyist from 1979 to 1990.[3] She was well-known for her effective lobbying, close monitoring of lawmakers' voting habits, and her commanding presence.[3][4][5]

Althea T. L. Simmons
BornApril 17, 1924
DiedSeptember 13, 1990
Washington D.C.
NationalityAmerican
EducationSouthern University

Howard University

University of Illinois
Occupation(s)Attorney, civil rights activist
EmployerNAACP

She died at the age of 66 from respiratory failure after hip surgery.[6]

Early life edit

Simmons was born in Shreveport, Louisiana to M.M. Simmons and B.E. Simmons.[7] and as a teen, she lived with her family in Winnsboro, Louisiana.[7] She attended college at Southern University, a historically Black university in Baton Rouge, and earned a law degree from Howard University.[3] Simmons also earned a marketing degree from the University of Illinois.[3]

Career edit

Simmons joined the NAACP in the mid-1950s and worked in various capacities. She joined NAACP's West Coast division in 1961 and worked on issues related to voter registration.[8] In NAACP's New York branch, she was the associate director of branch and field services,[3] and she was also National Education Director, National Training Director, and Director of Special Voter Registration Drives.[2]

As chief lobbyist for the NAACP in Washington D.C. from 1979 to 1990, Simmons exerted her influence on federal civil rights legislation. She helped to pass the 1982 extension and amendment of the Voting Rights Act, worked to make Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday a holiday, and also advocated for legislation imposing sanctions on South Africa due to apartheid.[2][9] Simmons noted that the observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday was an opportunity for white people to learn about race relations, as the history books provided scant information about civil rights.[10]

Simmons also argued against the appointment of William Rehnquist as Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, as she alleged that Rehnquist engaged in activities aimed at thwarting voter participation by African Americans and Latinos in the 1960s in Arizona.[8] She also stated Rehnquist's subsequent record as an attorney and judge reflected a very narrow interpretation of the scope of the 14th Amendment and consistent opposition to civil rights laws.[11] In her Senate testimony against Rehnquist's confirmation as chief justice, Simmons noted that "even though a person is a genius, if he lacks compassion, it distorts reality and cripples objectivity."[12]

Simmons closely monitored the voting records of lawmakers, as she observed that "[i]t's not enough to just listen to the politicians at election time. Start monitoring how they vote. Often they will say something on the floor of the House or Senate just to get into the Congressional Record, but they vote just the opposite."[3]

While hospitalized prior to her death, Simmons continued her work and helped lobby for the Civil Rights Act of 1990,[3] which was passed by the United States Congress.[13][14] It was vetoed by then-President of the United States George H. W. Bush about one month after her death.[15]

On September 17, 1990, four days after her death, U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy read a tribute to Simmons into the Senate's Congressional Record, where he referred to her as the "101st Senator on civil rights" and a "great champion in the continuing struggle to fulfill the constitutional promises of equal justice for all"[5]

Personal edit

Simmons was an active member of the Asbury United Methodist Church in Washington D.C. She also served as a committee member at the United Methodist Church Board of Pensions. She was a member of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority,[3] which named its Social Action Award after her. Awardees of the Althea T. L. Simmons Social Action Award include Hazel N. Dukes, a member of the NAACP National Board of Directors,[16] and voting rights activist Melanie L. Campbell.[17]

Selected honors edit

Selected publications edit

  • Althea T. L. Simmons. From Brown to Detroit: Blueprint for Education, Theory Into Practice, vol. 17, no. 1, 1978, pp. 67–71[18]
  • Althea T. L. Simmons. Review of Maggie's American Dream, The Journal of Negro Education, vol. 59, no. 2, 1990, pp. 220–222[19]
  • Althea T. L. Simmons. Civil Rights and Reaganomics, The Crisis, vol. 91, no. 4, 1984, pp. 8–10[20]

External links edit

  • C-SPAN Videos 1984-1989
  • NAACP
  • Harvard Art Museum

References edit

  1. ^ "Althea Simmons". Women In Peace. Retrieved 2020-06-19.
  2. ^ a b c "Althea Simmons, 66, N.A.A.C.P. Lobbyist". The New York Times. 1990-09-17. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-06-19.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Althea Simmons, NAACP Official, Dies". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  4. ^ 28 Johnson: Althea Simmons' Importance at the NAACP, retrieved 2020-06-19
  5. ^ a b "SENATE-Monday, September 17, 1990" (PDF). Congressional Record -- Senate. September 17, 1990. pp. 24647–24648. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
  6. ^ "Civil Rights Official Althea Simmons Dies". AP NEWS. Retrieved 2020-06-19.
  7. ^ a b "Althea Simmons in the 1940 Census | Ancestry®". Ancestry.com. Retrieved 2020-06-19.
  8. ^ a b Jet (1986-09-15). Althea Simmons Moves to Disqualify Rehnquist. Vol. 70, no. 26. Johnson Publishing Company. p. 16. https://books.google.com/books?id=L7MDAAAAMBAJ&dq=Althea+Simmons+Willian+Rehnquist&pg=PA16
  9. ^ "The Nation : Apartheid NAACP Target". Los Angeles Times. 1986-06-30. Retrieved 2020-06-19.
  10. ^ "Civil Rights | C-SPAN.org". www.c-span.org. Retrieved 2020-06-24.
  11. ^ "Opposing The Rehnquist Nomination". C-SPAN.org. Retrieved 2020-06-24.
  12. ^ Hentoff, Nat (August 6, 1986). "Cold, cold heart". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  13. ^ "S. 2104 (101st): Civil Rights Act of 1990 -- Senate Vote #161 -- Jul 18, 1990". GovTrack.us. Retrieved 2020-06-19.
  14. ^ "H.R. 4000 (101st): Civil Rights Act of 1990 -- House Vote #310 -- Aug 3, 1990". GovTrack.us. Retrieved 2020-06-19.
  15. ^ Devroy, Ann (1990-10-23). "BUSH VETOES CIVIL RIGHTS BILL". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2020-06-19.
  16. ^ "NAACP | Hazel N. Dukes". NAACP. Retrieved 2020-06-19.
  17. ^ "NCBCP: Melanie L. Campbell Receives Althea T.L. Simmons Award From Delta Sigma Theta Sorority". www.ncbcp.org. Retrieved 2020-06-19.
  18. ^ Simmons, Althea T. L. (1978). "From brown to Detroit: Blueprint for education". Theory into Practice. 17 (1): 67–71. doi:10.1080/00405847809542743. ISSN 0040-5841.
  19. ^ Simmons, Althea T. L. (1990). "Review of Maggie's American Dream". The Journal of Negro Education. 59 (2): 220–222. doi:10.2307/2295648. ISSN 0022-2984. JSTOR 2295648.
  20. ^ Simmons, Althea (April 1984). "Civil Rights and Reaganomics". The Crisis. 91 (4): 8–10 – via Google books.

October 31, 2023
althea, simmons, april, 1924, september, 1990, civil, rights, activist, attorney, with, naacp, over, years, simmons, head, naacp, washington, office, chief, lobbyist, from, 1979, 1990, well, known, effective, lobbying, close, monitoring, lawmakers, voting, hab. Althea T L Simmons April 17 1924 September 13 1990 1 was a civil rights activist and attorney with the NAACP for over 35 years 2 Simmons was the head of the NAACP s Washington D C office and its chief lobbyist from 1979 to 1990 3 She was well known for her effective lobbying close monitoring of lawmakers voting habits and her commanding presence 3 4 5 Althea T L SimmonsBornApril 17 1924DiedSeptember 13 1990Washington D C NationalityAmericanEducationSouthern University Howard University University of IllinoisOccupation s Attorney civil rights activistEmployerNAACPShe died at the age of 66 from respiratory failure after hip surgery 6 Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Personal 4 Selected honors 5 Selected publications 6 External links 7 ReferencesEarly life editSimmons was born in Shreveport Louisiana to M M Simmons and B E Simmons 7 and as a teen she lived with her family in Winnsboro Louisiana 7 She attended college at Southern University a historically Black university in Baton Rouge and earned a law degree from Howard University 3 Simmons also earned a marketing degree from the University of Illinois 3 Career editSimmons joined the NAACP in the mid 1950s and worked in various capacities She joined NAACP s West Coast division in 1961 and worked on issues related to voter registration 8 In NAACP s New York branch she was the associate director of branch and field services 3 and she was also National Education Director National Training Director and Director of Special Voter Registration Drives 2 As chief lobbyist for the NAACP in Washington D C from 1979 to 1990 Simmons exerted her influence on federal civil rights legislation She helped to pass the 1982 extension and amendment of the Voting Rights Act worked to make Dr Martin Luther King Jr s birthday a holiday and also advocated for legislation imposing sanctions on South Africa due to apartheid 2 9 Simmons noted that the observance of the Martin Luther King Jr holiday was an opportunity for white people to learn about race relations as the history books provided scant information about civil rights 10 Simmons also argued against the appointment of William Rehnquist as Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court as she alleged that Rehnquist engaged in activities aimed at thwarting voter participation by African Americans and Latinos in the 1960s in Arizona 8 She also stated Rehnquist s subsequent record as an attorney and judge reflected a very narrow interpretation of the scope of the 14th Amendment and consistent opposition to civil rights laws 11 In her Senate testimony against Rehnquist s confirmation as chief justice Simmons noted that even though a person is a genius if he lacks compassion it distorts reality and cripples objectivity 12 Simmons closely monitored the voting records of lawmakers as she observed that i t s not enough to just listen to the politicians at election time Start monitoring how they vote Often they will say something on the floor of the House or Senate just to get into the Congressional Record but they vote just the opposite 3 While hospitalized prior to her death Simmons continued her work and helped lobby for the Civil Rights Act of 1990 3 which was passed by the United States Congress 13 14 It was vetoed by then President of the United States George H W Bush about one month after her death 15 On September 17 1990 four days after her death U S Senator Ted Kennedy read a tribute to Simmons into the Senate s Congressional Record where he referred to her as the 101st Senator on civil rights and a great champion in the continuing struggle to fulfill the constitutional promises of equal justice for all 5 Personal editSimmons was an active member of the Asbury United Methodist Church in Washington D C She also served as a committee member at the United Methodist Church Board of Pensions She was a member of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority 3 which named its Social Action Award after her Awardees of the Althea T L Simmons Social Action Award include Hazel N Dukes a member of the NAACP National Board of Directors 16 and voting rights activist Melanie L Campbell 17 Selected honors editPresident s Award of Washburn University 3 Howard University Alumni Award for Postgraduate Achievement in Law and Public Service 3 Gertrude E Rush Award of the National Bar Association 3 Patricia Roberts Harris Award of Delta Sigma Theta sorority 3 Selected publications editAlthea T L Simmons From Brown to Detroit Blueprint for Education Theory Into Practice vol 17 no 1 1978 pp 67 71 18 Althea T L Simmons Review of Maggie s American Dream The Journal of Negro Education vol 59 no 2 1990 pp 220 222 19 Althea T L Simmons Civil Rights and Reaganomics The Crisis vol 91 no 4 1984 pp 8 10 20 External links editC SPAN Videos 1984 1989 NAACP Harvard Art MuseumReferences edit Althea Simmons Women In Peace Retrieved 2020 06 19 a b c Althea Simmons 66 N A A C P Lobbyist The New York Times 1990 09 17 ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved 2020 06 19 a b c d e f g h i j k l Althea Simmons NAACP Official Dies The Washington Post Retrieved June 18 2020 28 Johnson Althea Simmons Importance at the NAACP retrieved 2020 06 19 a b SENATE Monday September 17 1990 PDF Congressional Record Senate September 17 1990 pp 24647 24648 Retrieved June 19 2020 Civil Rights Official Althea Simmons Dies AP NEWS Retrieved 2020 06 19 a b Althea Simmons in the 1940 Census Ancestry Ancestry com Retrieved 2020 06 19 a b Jet 1986 09 15 Althea Simmons Moves to Disqualify Rehnquist Vol 70 no 26 Johnson Publishing Company p 16 https books google com books id L7MDAAAAMBAJ amp dq Althea Simmons Willian Rehnquist amp pg PA16 The Nation Apartheid NAACP Target Los Angeles Times 1986 06 30 Retrieved 2020 06 19 Civil Rights C SPAN org www c span org Retrieved 2020 06 24 Opposing The Rehnquist Nomination C SPAN org Retrieved 2020 06 24 Hentoff Nat August 6 1986 Cold cold heart The Washington Post Retrieved June 18 2020 S 2104 101st Civil Rights Act of 1990 Senate Vote 161 Jul 18 1990 GovTrack us Retrieved 2020 06 19 H R 4000 101st Civil Rights Act of 1990 House Vote 310 Aug 3 1990 GovTrack us Retrieved 2020 06 19 Devroy Ann 1990 10 23 BUSH VETOES CIVIL RIGHTS BILL Washington Post ISSN 0190 8286 Retrieved 2020 06 19 NAACP Hazel N Dukes NAACP Retrieved 2020 06 19 NCBCP Melanie L Campbell Receives Althea T L Simmons Award From Delta Sigma Theta Sorority www ncbcp org Retrieved 2020 06 19 Simmons Althea T L 1978 From brown to Detroit Blueprint for education Theory into Practice 17 1 67 71 doi 10 1080 00405847809542743 ISSN 0040 5841 Simmons Althea T L 1990 Review of Maggie s American Dream The Journal of Negro Education 59 2 220 222 doi 10 2307 2295648 ISSN 0022 2984 JSTOR 2295648 Simmons Althea April 1984 Civil Rights and Reaganomics The Crisis 91 4 8 10 via Google books Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Althea T L Simmons amp oldid 1182263578, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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