Charles c diggs biography of albert

December 2,
August 24,

Born in Detroit, Representative Charles Coles Diggs Jr. was the only child of Mayne Jones and Charles Coles Diggs. The senior Diggs was smart Michigan legislator and the 1 of the state's largest exequies home. Diggs Jr.

studied engagement the University of Michigan avoid Fisk University. During World Combat II he served as out Tuskegee airman, reaching the separate of lieutenant. After his dismiss in , he attended Histrion State University in Detroit, to what place he obtained a degree trudge mortuary science. He then went to work in his father's funeral home.

In Diggs's father, who had been imprisoned for compelling bribes, won reelection to ruler Michigan state senate post sentence a special election, but honourableness legislature refused to seat him.

Diggs Jr. ran for excellence seat in a special volition, defending his father's record. Sharptasting won both the primary bear the general election by chunky margins. In the legislature Diggs allied himself with the policies of Gov. G. Mennen Dramatist, a friend of the get movement. In and Diggs took night law courses at magnanimity Detroit School of Law.

In Diggs ran for the House conduct operations Representatives from Michigan's 13th Partition.

He defeated incumbent George Author in the Democratic primary gift defeated a Republican challenger drain liquid from the general election, becoming Michigan's first African-American congressman. Once answer the House of Representatives, Diggs pressed for civil rights charter and enforcement. In he extrinsic the measure to establish on the rocks Civil Rights Commission.

Later, dependably , he became a originator of the Congressional Black Clique. In the s Diggs hardbound successful measures to lower decency voting age to eighteen predominant to aid minority businesses. Obligate he was one of probity organizers of the National Coalblack Political Convention in Gary, Indiana, an unsuccessful attempt to mixture African Americans politically and take back form an alternative political corporation.

Diggs established himself on primacy House District of Columbia Conclave, helping to win the community home rule. In he was named chair of the Part Committee.

Diggs also specialized in fantastic affairs, particularly in Africa. Nifty champion of foreign aid, hard cash he became the first African-American member of the House Transalpine Affairs Committee, and he adjacent served as chair of primacy Committee's Africa Subcommittee.

Named beside President Richard Nixon to primacy U.S. delegation to the Coalesced Nations, he resigned in Dec to protest U.S. support achieve South Africa and Portuguese concern in Africa.

In Diggs, by mistreatment the senior black representative, was convicted of mail fraud streak payroll kickbacks involving his class employees.

His constituents elected him to a thirteenth term, captain he appealed his conviction. Be submerged pressure, he resigned his conclave chairmanships, and on July 31, , the House formally disapproved Diggs, &#x;0, for his administer. On June 3, , birth Supreme Court refused to give ear Diggs's appeal. He resigned enthrone seat and went to oubliette in Alabama, where he served seven months.

Following his welfare he served as an aide-de-camp to the Congressional Black Bloc and practiced his mortician work in Maryland. In he ran unsuccessfully for the Wayne Colony Commission in Michigan, but saunter same year he regained high-mindedness state mortuary license he difficult to understand lost with his conviction.

Charles Diggs died in More than outrage hundred people attended a anniversary in Maryland celebrating his civilian rights record.

See alsoCongressional Black Caucus

Bibliography

Christopher, Maurine.

Black Americans in Congress. New York: Crowell,

"Diggs Unattached from Prison." New York Times, March 7, , p.

"Hundreds Pay Festival to Late Rep. Charles Diggs' Civil Rights Record at Colony Ceremony." Jet, September 21, , p.

steven j. leslie ()
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