Dr. Benjamin L. Hooks: NAACP Centennial Convention

From The NAACP: April 16, 2010 — THE NAACP MOURNS THE PASSING OF CIVIL RIGHTS GIANT AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND CEO EMERITUS DR. BENJAMIN LAWSON HOOKS.

Hooks was born in Memphis, Tennessee in 1925. He graduated from Howard University in 1944 and then joined the army shortly thereafter where he earned the rank of staff sergeant. After completing his army duty, Dr. Hooks enrolled in DePaul University College of Law after no Tennessee law school would admit him. Upon receiving his law degree, Hooks returned to Memphis to practice law and he joined the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. In 1965 he became Tennessees first black criminal court judge and in 1972 Richard Nixon appointed him to be one of the five commissioners of the FCC. On November 6, 1976, the NAACP Board of Directors elected Hooks as Executive Director where he served until 1992.

Dr. Hooks spoke at the NAACPs Centennial Convention in New York last July and left the NAACP with words to live by: Lets fight on until justice runs down like waters and righteousness as a mighty stream. Lets fight on until there is no down-sizing, until there is no glass ceiling. Lets fight on until God shall gather the four winds of heaven; until the angel shall plant one foot on the sea and the other on dry land and declare that the time that has been will be no more. Fight on, until the lion shall lie down with the lamb. Fight on, until justice, righteousness, hopes equality and opportunity is the birthright of all Americans.