"George William Crockett" ( August 10,1909-September 7,1997)

Was born in Jacksonville,Florida,to George Crockett.,& Minnie Amelia Jenkins.His daddy was a Baptist minister and railroad carpenter and his mama was a Sunday School teacher and poet.George grew up in Jacksonville,attending public schools there until his graduation from Stranton High School in 1927.George then graduated from Morehouse College in 1931 with a B.A. in history and the University where he received his J.D. in 1934.George was admitted to the Florida bar in 1934 and soon afterwards began his long career in politics.In 1937 George helped found the National Lawyers Guild,the first racially integrated bar association in America.Two years later he became the first African American lawyer hired by the United States Department of Labor,where he worked on employment cases under the National Labor Relations Act.During World War II George became a hearing officer for the Federal Fair Employment Practices Committee (FEPC).keenly aware
of racial segregation and discrimination in labor International United Auto Workers (UAW) Union,1944,a post that brought his return to Michigan.
In 1948 George became a member of the legal team that defended eleven Communists leaders including Gus Hall,the head of the U.S.Communist Party,and former New York City Councilman Benjamin J.Davis,who were charged with violating the Smith Act.While defending his clients,George and four other defense attorneys were sentenced by Federal Judge Harold Medina to the U.S. Penitentiary in Ashland,Kentucky for comtempt of court.George serve four months in prison before being released in 1952.Soon after his release George reperesented future Detriot Mayor Coleman Young who who investigated by House UnAmerican Activities Committee.In 1964 George led a team of lawyers in Jackson,Mississippi who defended civil rights workers participating in the Mississippi Freedom Summer Project.George and other attorneys searched for missing civil rights workers James Chaney,Andrew Goodman,AND Michael Schwerner when local police officials refused to investigate their disappearance.Eventually the bodies of the three young men were discovered.In 1966 George was elected a judge of the Recorders Court in Detriot,a position he held for the next eight years.In 1974 he
was elected Chief Judge of the court for a four year term before retiring.In 1980 George declared his candidacy for Michigan's 13th District Congressional seat left vacant by the resignation of Congressman Charles Diggs.George won the special election.House speaker Thomas "Tip" O'Neal swore George into his seat on November 12,1980.George wife,Dr.Harriet Clark Crockett,and son George W.Crockett III,were at the ceremony as was his 96-year mama,Mrs.Minnie Crockett who recited a poem for the occasion.John was elected to Congress at the age of 71,he would continue to represent the people of the 13 District for a Decade.His political interests focused on South Africa policy of
apartheid.As a member of the House Africa Subcommittee he authored the Mandela Freedom Resolution which called on the South government to free Nelson Mandela.In 1984,George ,Detriot Mayor Coleman Young and others were arrested and jailed for anti-apartheid protests outside of the South African Embassy in Washington,D.C.
George also criticized President Ronald Reagan's failure to appoint African American ambassadors.In 1998,George would appoint to the U.S. delegation to the United Nations,by President Ronald Reagan.Before his appointment began,his legislation was a highly controversial act to have some illegal drugs "decriminated."George retired FROM THE U.S. Congress on January 3,1991.He continued to be politically active in Detriot until his death five days after a stroke.