Dr. Lawrence Aaron Nixon (1884-1966) - El Paso, Texas
Dr. Lawrence Aaron Nixon (1884-1966) - El Paso, Texas

Dr. Lawrence Aaron Nixon (1884-1966) - El Paso, Texas

Dr. Lawrence Aaron Nixon (1884-1966) was a black physician and voting-rights advocate. After ten lynchings of black men in Texas in 1909, Nixon decided to become a civil-rights advocate. He then moved to El Paso, where he established a successful medical practice, helped organize a Methodist congregation, voted in Democratic primary and general elections, and in 1910 helped to organize the local chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). In 1924 NAACP Field Secretary William Pickens visited El Paso, Texas and announced that the NAACP intended to test the constitutionality of the Terrell Law. The Terrell Law was passed in 1923 by the Texas Legislature which stated “In no event shall a Negro be eligible to participate in a Democratic primary election…in…Texas.” On July 26, 1924, with the sponsorship of the NAACP, Nixon took his poll-tax receipt to a Democratic primary polling place and was refused a ballot. Thus began a twenty-year struggle in which Nixon and his El Paso attorney, Fred C. Knollenberg, twice carried their case to the United States Supreme Court. Nixon won his cases and today they are regarded as major steps toward voting rights. However, there were legal loop holes under which the state and the Democratic party continued to deny primary votes to blacks. It was not until 1944 that Nixon and his wife were able to vote for the first time.

Área: Central / South Central

Fuente: C.L. Sonnichsen Special Collections, University of Texas at El Paso Library. Collection Name: Thirman (Morris) photos. Photo ID: MS505 DrNixon-dec3<i>1959</i>02.jpg

Cargado por: UTEP Library Special Collections

Comentarios

Hacer un comentario
Gracias por su comentario

Reportar esta entrada

Elige la razón más importante para este reporte

Tu nombre

Tu correo electrónico

Detalle opcional

Gracias por su reporte

Más sobre la misma comunidad-colección

Franklin Canal

Bertha Maynez sitting on a water gate on the Franklin Canal. ...

The Popular

Ruben Maynez jr and Santa Claus. Photo taken at the Popular in ...

outside of house on Leon St.

Bertha and Rueben Maynez wedding in 910 Leon St.

Front Yard on Swain

Bertha Maynez in frontyard of 1402 Swain.

living room in house on Leon st.

Bertha and Rueben Maynez wedding in 910 Leon St.

Front yard of Leon Street

At 910 Leon Street. Bowie High School graduation. Javier and ...

Front Yard on Swain

Bertha Maynez, Emiliano Mendez and Lilia Medina - sitting behind ...

backyard on Leon Street

910 Leon st. Octaviano Medina,Emiliano Mendez ( ...

Front yard of Leon Street

Taken in front yard of 910 Leon st Ruben Maynez, Mike and ...

Backyard on Leon Street

Celebration of Mr. & Mrs. Octaviano Medina's wedding celebration ...

Backyard on Tays Street

Paternal Grandparents, father and uncles at 804 1/2 Tays, L-R: ...

Grandfather

Panfilo Medina.Taken at 804 1/2 S Tays. Was known as a healer or ...

Abuelita

Juanita Medina. Taken at 804 1/2 S.Tays March is Women's ...

Family in backyard

Backyard of 1402 Swain. Mercy,Fernie,Danny,Richard, Pat Medina.

Wedding - El Paso, Texas

In front of St.Ignacio Catholic Church on Park Street.Leonor ...

First Holy Communion

Backyard on 1402 Caro. Danny Medina in the center on his Holy ...

Quincenera - El Paso, Texas

1402 Caro; Rosa Medina, Leonor Medina (her quincenera ...

Woman on car

Leonor Medina sitting on silver corvair in front of 1402 Caro

Downtown

Downtown El Paso, Octaviano, Fernie and Lila Medina

Quincenera

Leonor's 15th birthday located at 1402 caro in the Riolinda ...

Family Portrait

Ismael Studio. Lilia,Mercy,Octaviano,Leonor,Fernie,Pat Medina.

home.search_collection