Booker T. Spicely
Encyclopedia
Booker Thomas Spicely was a victim of racial violence whose murder is considered to be one event in a series of events that contributed to the Civil Rights movement
, much like when Irene Morgan
(also in July, 1944) was arrested and jailed in Virginia
for refusing to give up her seat on an interstate bus to a white person, or when Emmett Till
was murdered by two white men in Mississippi
in 1955.
, Virginia, to Lazarus and Alberta Spicely. He attended two years of high school
. He apparently worked as an assistant business manager at the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama
before volunteering for the United States Army
on December 31, 1943 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
. His serial number was 33809308, and he was trained as a cook
.
In 1944, Private Spicely was stationed at Camp Butner
, North Carolina
. While on a pass into the nearby city of Durham on July 8, 1944, he boarded a bus with a black family he was talking to at the bus stop, and sat in the front row behind the driver. The driver told them to go to the back of the bus. The family did, but Spicely refused, saying that he was a soldier and that he was fighting in the war. Soon afterwards, several white soldiers boarded the bus, and attempted to persuade Spicely to move to the back of the bus. Again, he protested, saying that he wore the same uniform as them and that he shouldn’t have to move seats.
Spicely continued arguing with the bus driver until he departed the bus. When he did, the driver followed him off the bus and shot Spicely twice when Spicely turned around. His cause of death is listed as homicide ("shot by bus driver"), with sudden death occurring due to a "pistol shot wound through heart" with a secondary cause of "pistol shot through liver".
The driver, Herman Lee Council, was tried for the second-degree murder of Spicely but was acquitted. Spicely’s killing was found to be in self defense. Chief Counsel for the NAACP Thurgood Marshall
was involved in the case.
According to some sources, due to Spicely's murder, a riot ensued in the tobacco warehouse district of Durham, resulting in the destruction (via arson) of several of the white-owned tobacco
warehouses. However, contemporary newspaper accounts make no mention of a connection between Spicely's death and the warehouse district fire.
The War Department
conducted an investigation of Spicely’s death titled Subject: Racial Incident, Shooting of Negro Soldier, Durham, N.C. on 8 July 1944 at about 1940, dated July 12, 1944. His cause of death during World War II
is listed as DNB, or “Died, Non-Battle.”
Spicely's body was returned to his home in Blackstone, Virginia, for burial; Herman Lee Council died in a nursing home in 1982.
Civil rights movement
The civil rights movement was a worldwide political movement for equality before the law occurring between approximately 1950 and 1980. In many situations it took the form of campaigns of civil resistance aimed at achieving change by nonviolent forms of resistance. In some situations it was...
, much like when Irene Morgan
Irene Morgan
Irene Morgan , later known as Irene Morgan Kirkaldy, was an important predecessor to Rosa Parks in the successful fight to overturn segregation laws in the United States...
(also in July, 1944) was arrested and jailed in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
for refusing to give up her seat on an interstate bus to a white person, or when Emmett Till
Emmett Till
Emmett Louis "Bobo" Till was an African-American boy who was murdered in Mississippi at the age of 14 after reportedly flirting with a white woman. Till was from Chicago, Illinois visiting his relatives in the Mississippi Delta region when he spoke to 21-year-old Carolyn Bryant, the married...
was murdered by two white men in Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
in 1955.
Biography
Spicely was born in BlackstoneBlackstone, Virginia
Blackstone is a town in Nottoway County, Virginia, United States. The population was 3,675 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Blackstone is located at ....
, Virginia, to Lazarus and Alberta Spicely. He attended two years of high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
. He apparently worked as an assistant business manager at the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
before volunteering for the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
on December 31, 1943 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. His serial number was 33809308, and he was trained as a cook
Cook (profession)
A cook is a person who prepares food for consumption. In Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Canada this profession requires government approval ....
.
In 1944, Private Spicely was stationed at Camp Butner
Camp Butner
Camp Butner was a United States Army installation in Butner, North Carolina during World War II. It was named after Army General Henry W. Butner....
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. While on a pass into the nearby city of Durham on July 8, 1944, he boarded a bus with a black family he was talking to at the bus stop, and sat in the front row behind the driver. The driver told them to go to the back of the bus. The family did, but Spicely refused, saying that he was a soldier and that he was fighting in the war. Soon afterwards, several white soldiers boarded the bus, and attempted to persuade Spicely to move to the back of the bus. Again, he protested, saying that he wore the same uniform as them and that he shouldn’t have to move seats.
Spicely continued arguing with the bus driver until he departed the bus. When he did, the driver followed him off the bus and shot Spicely twice when Spicely turned around. His cause of death is listed as homicide ("shot by bus driver"), with sudden death occurring due to a "pistol shot wound through heart" with a secondary cause of "pistol shot through liver".
The driver, Herman Lee Council, was tried for the second-degree murder of Spicely but was acquitted. Spicely’s killing was found to be in self defense. Chief Counsel for the NAACP Thurgood Marshall
Thurgood Marshall
Thurgood Marshall was an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court, serving from October 1967 until October 1991...
was involved in the case.
According to some sources, due to Spicely's murder, a riot ensued in the tobacco warehouse district of Durham, resulting in the destruction (via arson) of several of the white-owned tobacco
Tobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
warehouses. However, contemporary newspaper accounts make no mention of a connection between Spicely's death and the warehouse district fire.
The War Department
United States Department of War
The United States Department of War, also called the War Department , was the United States Cabinet department originally responsible for the operation and maintenance of the United States Army...
conducted an investigation of Spicely’s death titled Subject: Racial Incident, Shooting of Negro Soldier, Durham, N.C. on 8 July 1944 at about 1940, dated July 12, 1944. His cause of death during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
is listed as DNB, or “Died, Non-Battle.”
Spicely's body was returned to his home in Blackstone, Virginia, for burial; Herman Lee Council died in a nursing home in 1982.