Johnnie Carr
Encyclopedia
Johnnie Rebecca Daniels Carr (January 26, 1911 – February 22, 2008) was a leader in the Civil Rights movement
in the United States
from 1955 until her death.
In 1967, Carr became President of the Montgomery Improvement Association
, succeeding the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Carr held this office until she died.
Carr was a childhood friend of Rosa Parks
and is considered, along with Parks, to be an important face in the Civil Rights movement in Montgomery
, Alabama
. According to Morris Dees
, one of three founders of Montgomery's Southern Poverty Law Center
, "Johnnie Carr is one of the three major icons of the Civil Rights Movement: Dr. King, Rosa Parks and Johnnie Carr. I think ultimately, when the final history books are written, she'll be one of the few people remembered for that terrific movement."
Civil Rights pioneer and U.S. Representative John Lewis
, D-Ga., said, "Mrs. Carr must be looked on as one of the founders of a new America because she was there with Rosa Parks, E.D. Nixon
, Martin Luther King Jr. and so many others."
In 1944, Carr, along with her husband Arlam Carr, Rosa Parks
and Raymond Parks, E. D. Nixon, E. G. Jackson, and Irene West organized to defend a black woman near Montgomery who was gang raped by six white men. This core of activists, who canvassed neighborhoods, raised money, sent petitions and postcards to the governor and attorney general of Alabama, later became part of the movement that supported Martin Luther King Jr.
Carr died of a massive stroke at the age of 97.
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...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
from 1955 until her death.
In 1967, Carr became President of the Montgomery Improvement Association
Montgomery Improvement Association
The Montgomery Improvement Association was formed on December 5, 1955 by black ministers and community leaders in Montgomery, Alabama. Under the leadership of Martin Luther King, Jr...
, succeeding the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Carr held this office until she died.
Carr was a childhood friend of Rosa Parks
Rosa Parks
Rosa Louise McCauley Parks was an African-American civil rights activist, whom the U.S. Congress called "the first lady of civil rights", and "the mother of the freedom movement"....
and is considered, along with Parks, to be an important face in the Civil Rights movement in Montgomery
Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery is the capital of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is the county seat of Montgomery County. It is located on the Alabama River southeast of the center of the state, in the Gulf Coastal Plain. As of the 2010 census, Montgomery had a population of 205,764 making it the second-largest city...
, 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...
. According to Morris Dees
Morris Dees
Morris Seligman Dees, Jr. is the co-founder and chief trial counsel for the Southern Poverty Law Center , and a former direct mail marketeer for book publishing. Along with his law partner, Joseph J...
, one of three founders of Montgomery's Southern Poverty Law Center
Southern Poverty Law Center
The Southern Poverty Law Center is an American nonprofit civil rights organization noted for its legal victories against white supremacist groups; legal representation for victims of hate groups; monitoring of alleged hate groups, militias and extremist organizations; and educational programs that...
, "Johnnie Carr is one of the three major icons of the Civil Rights Movement: Dr. King, Rosa Parks and Johnnie Carr. I think ultimately, when the final history books are written, she'll be one of the few people remembered for that terrific movement."
Civil Rights pioneer and U.S. Representative John Lewis
John Lewis (politician)
John Robert Lewis is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1987. He was a leader in the American Civil Rights Movement and chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee , playing a key role in the struggle to end segregation...
, D-Ga., said, "Mrs. Carr must be looked on as one of the founders of a new America because she was there with Rosa Parks, E.D. Nixon
Edgar Nixon
Edgar Daniel Nixon was an African American civil rights leader and union organizer who played a crucial role in organizing the famous Montgomery Bus Boycott in Montgomery, Alabama. Nixon also led the Montgomery branch of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters union, known as the Pullman Porters...
, Martin Luther King Jr. and so many others."
In 1944, Carr, along with her husband Arlam Carr, Rosa Parks
Rosa Parks
Rosa Louise McCauley Parks was an African-American civil rights activist, whom the U.S. Congress called "the first lady of civil rights", and "the mother of the freedom movement"....
and Raymond Parks, E. D. Nixon, E. G. Jackson, and Irene West organized to defend a black woman near Montgomery who was gang raped by six white men. This core of activists, who canvassed neighborhoods, raised money, sent petitions and postcards to the governor and attorney general of Alabama, later became part of the movement that supported Martin Luther King Jr.
Carr died of a massive stroke at the age of 97.
External links
- Obituary in The Times, 9 March 2008
- Alabama Civil Rights collection - The Jack Rabin Collection on Alabama Civil Rights and Southern Activists, at Penn State University, includes materials and oral history interviews of the Montgomery Improvement Association.