Alexander Walters
Encyclopedia
Bishop Alexander Walters (1858-1917) was an American clergyman and noted civil rights leader. Born a slave in Bardstown, Kentucky
, just before the Civil War, he rose to become a bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church
at age 33, then president of the National Afro-American Council, the nation’s largest civil rights organization, at age 40, serving in that post for most of the next decade.
In 1889, the Rev. Walters was selected to represent Zion Church in London at the World’s Sunday School Convention, and went on to visit other parts of Europe, Egypt, and the Holy Land. In May 1892, he was elected bishop of the Seventh District of the General Conference of the A.M.E. Zion Church, meeting in Pittsburgh.
While in New York, he became acquainted with journalist Timothy Thomas Fortune
, who was in the process of organizing his National Afro-American League
, designed to protect African Americans against lynching and racial discrimination. Walters immediately endorsed the League, which met in early 1890 in Knoxville, but went defunct by 1893.
and the widow of Frederick Douglass
.
The new National Afro-American Council
was intended to replicate the old League. Its constitution declared the Council nonpartisan in nature, and envisioned a structure of state and local councils, gathered together in annual meetings with delegates from affiliated organizations, schools, and newspapers, to protest against racial injustice and discrimination and to lobby for protective laws. Walters was elected the first president, while Fortune became the first chairman of the executive committee.
Beginning in Washington, D.C., in December 1898, the Council met in large cities around the country, attracting large audiences of African American journalists, clergymen, lawyers, educators, and community activists. Its officers included a wide range of influential African American men and women. The Council met in Chicago (1899), Indianapolis (1900), and Philadelphia (1901), each time reelecting Walters to the presidency and adopting outspoken, occasionally radical resolutions.
At the meeting in Saint Paul, Minnesota, in 1902, Walters stepped aside to become chairman of the executive committee, and Fortune was promoted president. A protégé of Booker T. Washington, Fortune began to steer the Council away from the independent course favored by Walters, and the Council soon slid into dormancy. Walters bided his time, regaining the presidency in Detroit in 1905, after issuing an appeal to old members to return. He was reelected at New York (1906) and Baltimore (1907), but the Council, now under the control of militant members of the Niagara Movement, gradually lost its cohesiveness and stability.
Walters traveled abroad frequently, including frequent trips to London, where he attended the Pan-African Conference in 1900, and visited West Africa in 1910 and the Caribbean in 1911. A well-respected figure internationally, he declined an offer in 1915 by U.S. President Woodrow Wilson
to become U.S. minister to Liberia. Walters died on February 2, 1917, of natural causes.
. The couple's son, Hillis Walters (1904-1984), was an actor during the Harlem Renaissance in the 1920s and 30s and, later, a composer. His most successful composition was the song, "Pass Me By," (1946), with lyrics by Mercer Ellington
. It was recorded by Lena Horne
, Carmen McRae
and Peggy Lee
. Bishop Walters is buried in Brooklyn, New York, in Mother Zion’s Cypress Hill Cemetery.
Bardstown, Kentucky
As of the census of 2010, there were 11,700 people, 4,712 households, and 2,949 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 5,113 housing units at an average density of...
, just before the Civil War, he rose to become a bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church
African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church
The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, or AME Zion Church, is a historically African-American Christian denomination. It was officially formed in 1821, but operated for a number of years before then....
at age 33, then president of the National Afro-American Council, the nation’s largest civil rights organization, at age 40, serving in that post for most of the next decade.
Biography
Walters was educated after the War in private schools, serving as valedictorian of his high school class in 1875. Within two years, he was licensed to preach by the A.M.E. Zion Quarterly Conference, serving pastorates in Indianapolis, Louisville, San Francisco, Portland, Oregon, Chattanooga, and Knoxville, Tennessee, before his assignment to Mother Zion Church in New York City in 1888.In 1889, the Rev. Walters was selected to represent Zion Church in London at the World’s Sunday School Convention, and went on to visit other parts of Europe, Egypt, and the Holy Land. In May 1892, he was elected bishop of the Seventh District of the General Conference of the A.M.E. Zion Church, meeting in Pittsburgh.
While in New York, he became acquainted with journalist Timothy Thomas Fortune
Timothy Thomas Fortune
Timothy Thomas Fortune was an orator, civil rights leader, journalist, writer, editor and publisher. He was born during slavery in Marianna, Jackson County, Florida to Emanuel and Sarah Jane Fortune.-Early life:...
, who was in the process of organizing his National Afro-American League
National Afro-American League
The National Afro-American League was formed on January 25, 1890 by Timothy Thomas Fortune. Preceding the foundation of the NAACP, the organization dedicated itself to racial solidarity and self-help. The organization became defunct in 1893 due to lack of support and funding.In September 1898,...
, designed to protect African Americans against lynching and racial discrimination. Walters immediately endorsed the League, which met in early 1890 in Knoxville, but went defunct by 1893.
The National Afro-American Council
In March 1898, alarmed by an upsurge in violent lynchings of African Americans across the country, Walters asked Fortune to publish a nationwide appeal for a meeting of African American leaders. More than 150 leaders from across the country signed the call, which resulted in an organizational meeting in Rochester, New York, in September 1898, also attended by Susan B. AnthonySusan B. Anthony
Susan Brownell Anthony was a prominent American civil rights leader who played a pivotal role in the 19th century women's rights movement to introduce women's suffrage into the United States. She was co-founder of the first Women's Temperance Movement with Elizabeth Cady Stanton as President...
and the widow of Frederick Douglass
Frederick Douglass
Frederick Douglass was an American social reformer, orator, writer and statesman. After escaping from slavery, he became a leader of the abolitionist movement, gaining note for his dazzling oratory and incisive antislavery writing...
.
The new National Afro-American Council
National Afro-American Council
The National Afro-American Council, the first nationwide civil rights organization in the United States, was created in 1898 in Rochester, New York...
was intended to replicate the old League. Its constitution declared the Council nonpartisan in nature, and envisioned a structure of state and local councils, gathered together in annual meetings with delegates from affiliated organizations, schools, and newspapers, to protest against racial injustice and discrimination and to lobby for protective laws. Walters was elected the first president, while Fortune became the first chairman of the executive committee.
Beginning in Washington, D.C., in December 1898, the Council met in large cities around the country, attracting large audiences of African American journalists, clergymen, lawyers, educators, and community activists. Its officers included a wide range of influential African American men and women. The Council met in Chicago (1899), Indianapolis (1900), and Philadelphia (1901), each time reelecting Walters to the presidency and adopting outspoken, occasionally radical resolutions.
At the meeting in Saint Paul, Minnesota, in 1902, Walters stepped aside to become chairman of the executive committee, and Fortune was promoted president. A protégé of Booker T. Washington, Fortune began to steer the Council away from the independent course favored by Walters, and the Council soon slid into dormancy. Walters bided his time, regaining the presidency in Detroit in 1905, after issuing an appeal to old members to return. He was reelected at New York (1906) and Baltimore (1907), but the Council, now under the control of militant members of the Niagara Movement, gradually lost its cohesiveness and stability.
Later life
In 1908, Walters refused an offer by W. E. B. Du Bois to merge the Council with the Niagara Movement and two other organizations. Walters angered many black followers by endorsing Democratic presidential candidate William Jennings Bryan in 1908. The Council soon dissolved, but Walters wasted little time seeking a new power base, emerging as president of the new National Independent Political league. In the 1910s, he became a member of both the new National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the National Urban League.Walters traveled abroad frequently, including frequent trips to London, where he attended the Pan-African Conference in 1900, and visited West Africa in 1910 and the Caribbean in 1911. A well-respected figure internationally, he declined an offer in 1915 by U.S. President Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson
Thomas Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States, from 1913 to 1921. A leader of the Progressive Movement, he served as President of Princeton University from 1902 to 1910, and then as the Governor of New Jersey from 1911 to 1913...
to become U.S. minister to Liberia. Walters died on February 2, 1917, of natural causes.
Private life
Walters was married three times, and had six children. His first wife, Katie Knox Walters, died in 1896; his second wife, Emeline Virginia Byrd Walters, died in 1902. He was survived by his third wife, Lelia Coleman Walters. Following his death, his widow obtained employment as a clerk for the United States Bureau of Immigration on Ellis IslandEllis Island
Ellis Island in New York Harbor was the gateway for millions of immigrants to the United States. It was the nation's busiest immigrant inspection station from 1892 until 1954. The island was greatly expanded with landfill between 1892 and 1934. Before that, the much smaller original island was the...
. The couple's son, Hillis Walters (1904-1984), was an actor during the Harlem Renaissance in the 1920s and 30s and, later, a composer. His most successful composition was the song, "Pass Me By," (1946), with lyrics by Mercer Ellington
Mercer Ellington
Mercer Kennedy Ellington was an American jazz trumpeter, composer, and arranger.Ellington was born in Washington, DC, the son of famous composer, pianist, and bandleader Duke Ellington...
. It was recorded by Lena Horne
Lena Horne
Lena Mary Calhoun Horne was an American singer, actress, civil rights activist and dancer.Horne joined the chorus of the Cotton Club at the age of sixteen and became a nightclub performer before moving to Hollywood, where she had small parts in numerous movies, and more substantial parts in the...
, Carmen McRae
Carmen McRae
Carmen Mercedes McRae was an American jazz singer, composer, pianist, and actress. Considered one of the most influential jazz vocalists of the 20th century, it was her behind-the-beat phrasing and her ironic interpretations of song lyrics that made her memorable...
and Peggy Lee
Peggy Lee
Peggy Lee was an American jazz and popular music singer, songwriter, composer, and actress in a career spanning six decades. From her beginning as a vocalist on local radio to singing with Benny Goodman's big band, she forged a sophisticated persona, evolving into a multi-faceted artist and...
. Bishop Walters is buried in Brooklyn, New York, in Mother Zion’s Cypress Hill Cemetery.
External links
- My Life and Work. New York ; Chicago [etc.]: Fleming H. Revell Company, [c1917].