"James Benton Parsons"

He was the son of James B.(a minister) and Maggie Parsons,The Parsons moved to Decuator Illinois,when he was still very young.As a child and young adult,music,-not law--captured his attention and imagination.He attended James Miliken University & Conservatory where he received his B.A.in music in 1934.James studied political science at the University of Washington graduating in 1940.He served in the Navy from 1942-1945 and married Amy Margaret Maxwell.James went on to the University of Chicago for his M.A. in political science in 1946 and LL.D in 1949.He taught music and political science at Lincoln University,Jefferson City Missouri,1934-1938;acting
head of the music department at Lincoln University,1938-1940;supervisor instrumental music;public schools of Greensboro,North Carolina,1940-1942;volunteered U.S.Navy,1942-1945;law firm of Gassaway,Crosison,Turner & & Parson,1949-1951;taught constitutional law at John Marshall Law
School in Chicago,Illinois,1940-1951;assistant corporation counsel for City of Chicago,1949-1951;
assistant U.S.district attorney,1951-1960;Cook County Superior Court Judge,1960-1961;U.S.District Court Judge,Chief Judge Emeritus Senior Judge,1961-1992;and
initiated the James B.Parsons scholarship fund,1992.James was the first African-American name to the U.S.District Court with life tenure.An outspoken jurist,
James was appointed by President Kennedy in 1961 and presided for more than 30
years before his retirement in 1992.James made news in 1969 when he condemned
African Americans for getting caught up in slick "white man's crimes."In an interview with The New York Times,he claimed that African Americans had neither the education nor the the background to commit such crimes,as counterfeiting,mail fraud,embezzing,safe cracking,and jewel theft with any degree or skill,""Because the society has prevented [them] from getting into that world."Opportunities to work as engravers,a good start for counterfeiters or watchmakers and helpful if you
want to crack safes,were denied to African Americans institutionally."I am not saying
to my people that they ought to get into crafts and skills and big business to steal,or
to learn to steal cleverly," he simply felt it was "especially stupid" for African Americans to get involved with those types of crimes because they risked a greater chance of getting caught.He received many awards:Honorary degrees from Lincoln
University,James Miliken University,
and DePaul University Law School;Parsons Elementary School was dedicated in his name,in 1967,in Decautur Illinois;Citation of Recognition for Outstanding Service as
Chief Judge of the District Court,
Chicago Bar Association 1981;Outstanding Service Award,Chicago State University,1984.James tenure on the bench was not without notable legal incidents.
The New York Time's obituary
cited a federal case in which he sentenced 47 men to jail for price fixing.He also played a crucial role in the air traffic controller's dispute in their 1970 strike.
In 1987 James had to help uphold the Tenant's Bill of Rights in Chicago.Not afraid to ruffing some feathers.He ruled the following year that the Daley Center in Chicago could display nativity scenes publicity.He retired from the bench in 1992.For a few months following his official retirement he continued to peform some fuctions,including swearing in new citizens.