The life of Elreta Melton Alexander : activism within the courts / Virginia L. Summey.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Summey, Virginia L., author.

Contributor:

Rosengarten Family Fund.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

African American women judges--North Carolina.

African American women judges.

Criminal defense lawyers--North Carolina.

Criminal defense lawyers.

Alexander-Ralston, Elreta, 1919-1998.

Alexander-Ralston, Elreta.

North Carolina.

Genre:

Biographies.

Physical Description:

193 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Athens : The University of Georgia Press, [2022]

Summary:

"This book explores the life and contributions of groundbreaking attorney, Elreta Melton Alexander Ralston (1919-1998).In 1945, Alexander became the first African-American woman to graduate from Columbia Law School. In 1947, she was the first African-American woman to practice law in the State of North Carolina, and subsequently, in 1968, became the first African-American woman to become an elected district court judge. Despite her accomplishments, Alexander is little known to scholars outside of her hometown of Greensboro, North Carolina. Her life and career deserve recognition, however, not just because of her impressive lists of "firsts," but because she accomplished such impressive feats in the midst of the civil rights movement in the U.S. South. While Alexander did not actively participate in civil rights marches and demonstrations, she used her professional achievements and middle-class status to advocate for individuals who lacked a voice in the southern legal system. This book argues that Alexander was integral to the civil rights movement in North Carolina. Women like Alexander worked to change discriminatory laws while opening professional doors for other minority women. Women and African Americans have historically used the law as a means of obtaining personal and societal change, which was vital during the civil rights movement. Using her professional status, Alexander combated segregation by demonstrating that black women were worthy and capable of achieving careers alongside white men, thereby creating environments in which other African Americans could succeed. Her legal expertise and ability to reach across racial boundaries made her an important figure in Greensboro, North Carolina history"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Machine generated contents note: ch. 1 A Respectable Childhood

ch. 2 Between Two Worlds

ch. 3 Changing the System

ch. 4 Turbulence at Home

ch. 5 A Reluctant Pioneer?

ch. 6 Attempting the Impossible.

Notes:

Based on author's thesis (doctoral - University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 2017) issued under title: Fighting within the bar : Judge Elreta Alexander and civil rights advocacy in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Local Notes:

Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the Rosengarten Family Fund.

Other Format:

ebook version :

ISBN:

9780820361925

0820361925

9780820361932

0820361933

OCLC:

1285553967

Publisher Number:

99991057228