Hulan Jack
Encyclopedia
Hulan Edwin Jack was a prominent Saint Lucia
n-born New York
politician who in 1954 became the highest ranking African American municipal official up until that time, when he was elected Borough President
of Manhattan
.
and spent his early years in British Guiana
before emigrating to the United States. His father was a minister in the African Orthodox Church
. The young Hulan worked as a janitor at a paper box factory, eventually rising to become a vice president of the firm.
He went on to become active in politics with Tammany Hall
, winning several elections to the New York State Assembly
, representing Harlem
. As a legislator, he attempted unsuccessfully to pass legislation that would block the racial segregation in New York State public schools and in the sale of property.
Jack was indicted in 1959 for allowing a friend, Jack Ungar, to pay a $4,400 bill for the remodeling of his apartment. It was charged that Ungar, a real estate developer, hoped to obtain a contract from the city in return for the favor, although Jack voted against granting Ungar the contract. Jack was tried twice; the first trial ended with a hung jury, and in the second trial, an all-white jury found him guilty of accepting the gift and of then conspiring to hide it. The judge gave him a one-year suspended sentence, which had the effect of automatically dismissing Jack from office.
according to his daughter.
, acting as a consultant to the 1980 presidential campaign of Lyndon LaRouche
. The LaRouche publishing house, New Benjamin Franklin House, published Jack's autobiography, Fifty Years a Democrat. Jack and LaRouche founded the Committee for a New Africa Policy, which lobbied for short term aid and long-term infrastructure development for Africa
. In 1984, Jack became a founding member and board member of the LaRouche-affiliated Schiller Institute
. His daughter said the association was "unfortunate".
Jack died of cancer on December 22, 1986. He belonged to the Roman Catholic church.
Saint Lucia
Saint Lucia is an island country in the eastern Caribbean Sea on the boundary with the Atlantic Ocean. Part of the Lesser Antilles, it is located north/northeast of the island of Saint Vincent, northwest of Barbados and south of Martinique. It covers a land area of 620 km2 and has an...
n-born New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
politician who in 1954 became the highest ranking African American municipal official up until that time, when he was elected Borough President
Borough president
Borough President is an elective office in each of the five boroughs of New York City.-Reasons for establishment:...
of Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
.
Early life
Jack was born in Saint LuciaSaint Lucia
Saint Lucia is an island country in the eastern Caribbean Sea on the boundary with the Atlantic Ocean. Part of the Lesser Antilles, it is located north/northeast of the island of Saint Vincent, northwest of Barbados and south of Martinique. It covers a land area of 620 km2 and has an...
and spent his early years in British Guiana
British Guiana
British Guiana was the name of the British colony on the northern coast of South America, now the independent nation of Guyana.The area was originally settled by the Dutch at the start of the 17th century as the colonies of Essequibo, Demerara, and Berbice...
before emigrating to the United States. His father was a minister in the African Orthodox Church
African Orthodox Church
The African Orthodox Church is a primarily African-American denomination founded in the United States in 1921. It has approximately 15 parishes and 5,000 members, down significantly from the time of its greatest strength....
. The young Hulan worked as a janitor at a paper box factory, eventually rising to become a vice president of the firm.
He went on to become active in politics with Tammany Hall
Tammany Hall
Tammany Hall, also known as the Society of St. Tammany, the Sons of St. Tammany, or the Columbian Order, was a New York political organization founded in 1786 and incorporated on May 12, 1789 as the Tammany Society...
, winning several elections to the New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
, representing Harlem
Harlem
Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, which since the 1920s has been a major African-American residential, cultural and business center. Originally a Dutch village, formally organized in 1658, it is named after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands...
. As a legislator, he attempted unsuccessfully to pass legislation that would block the racial segregation in New York State public schools and in the sale of property.
Borough President
In 1953, he was elected Borough President of Manhattan, making him one of the nation's most important African-American elected officials.Jack was indicted in 1959 for allowing a friend, Jack Ungar, to pay a $4,400 bill for the remodeling of his apartment. It was charged that Ungar, a real estate developer, hoped to obtain a contract from the city in return for the favor, although Jack voted against granting Ungar the contract. Jack was tried twice; the first trial ended with a hung jury, and in the second trial, an all-white jury found him guilty of accepting the gift and of then conspiring to hide it. The judge gave him a one-year suspended sentence, which had the effect of automatically dismissing Jack from office.
Return to Assembly
After resigning from Borough President, Jack ran again for the New York State Assembly and won back his old seat. In 1972, Jack was convicted of extortion, along with five others. They were trying to force shop owners to carry a line of products manufactured by a company owned by Jack. He received a three months prison term and a $5,000 fine. He appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, which denied his appeal. He was later pardoned by President Jimmy CarterJimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
according to his daughter.
LaRouche movement
Jack became involved with the LaRouche movementLaRouche movement
The LaRouche movement is an international political and cultural network that promotes Lyndon LaRouche and his ideas. It has included scores of organizations and companies around the world. Their activities include campaigning, private intelligence gathering, and publishing numerous periodicals,...
, acting as a consultant to the 1980 presidential campaign of Lyndon LaRouche
Lyndon LaRouche
Lyndon Hermyle LaRouche, Jr. is an American political activist and founder of a network of political committees, parties, and publications known collectively as the LaRouche movement...
. The LaRouche publishing house, New Benjamin Franklin House, published Jack's autobiography, Fifty Years a Democrat. Jack and LaRouche founded the Committee for a New Africa Policy, which lobbied for short term aid and long-term infrastructure development for Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
. In 1984, Jack became a founding member and board member of the LaRouche-affiliated Schiller Institute
Schiller Institute
The Schiller Institute is an international political and economic thinktank, one of the primary organizations of the LaRouche movement, with headquarters in Germany and the United States, and supporters in Australia, Canada, Russia, and South America, among others, according to its website.The...
. His daughter said the association was "unfortunate".
Jack died of cancer on December 22, 1986. He belonged to the Roman Catholic church.