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Meet the President & CEO

We celebrated the 68th Anniversary of the February 13th-14th organizing meeting of the SCLC in New Orleans with National President and CEO DeMark B. Liggins!

In 1957, A New President Was Elected In New Orleans

Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was elected President of what became The Southern Christian Leadership Conference - SCLC.

A culture of Community Service! The ONLY National Civil Rights organization formalized in New Orleans, Louisiana

SCLC PRESIDENTS ELECTED IN NEW ORLEANS

Rev. Dr. King, Hon. Rev. Davis, Rev. Dr. Harvey, Rev. Dr. Thompson, and Rev. Dr. LeBan

Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

A DRUM MAJOR FOR JUSTICE

 Martin Luther King, Jr., (January 15, 1929-April 4, 1968) was born Michael Luther King, Jr., but later had his name changed to Martin. His grandfather began the family’s long tenure as pastors of the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, serving from 1914 to 1931; his father has served from then until his death, and from 1960 until his death Martin Luther acted as co-pastor. Martin Luther attended segregated public schools in Georgia, graduating from high school at the age of fifteen; he received the B. A. degree in 1948 from Morehouse College, a distinguished Negro institution of Atlanta from which both his father and grandfather had graduated. After three years of theological study at Crozer Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania where he was elected president of a predominantly white senior class, he was awarded the B.D. in 1951.  In Boston he met and married Coretta Scott, a young woman of uncommon intellectual and artistic attainments. 

SCLC 50TH ANNIVERSARY VIDEO

The Southern Christian Leadership Conference

On February 14, 1957, a new organization was formally organized in New Orleans!

Mahalia sings at a Rally in Chicago

Mahalia sings at the 1963 March on Washington

Excerpts from the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom

Dr. Clarence B. Jones on Mahalia Jackson and the "I have A Dream" Speech

"New Orleans Gift of Music to Modern Civil Rights"

Dr. Levon A. LeBan

       The undisputed Queen of Gospel Music, Mahalia “Halie” Jackson, daughter of John A. and Charity Jackson, was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on October 26, 1911. She is considered by many as one of the most influential artists of the 20th century. Jackson grew up in the Carrolton-Hollygrove section of the city in a neighborhood called the Black Pearl. The classic uptown New Orleans-style “shotgun” homes typically housed numerous people and often pets. Popular folklore associated with the name “shotgun” is said to have originated from a remark (author unknown) that stated, "If you fired a shotgun through the open front door, pellets would travel straight through each room and out the back door in case someone tried to escape." In addition, the name may have derived from the West African Yoruba word ‘togun,’ which translates to “house.” Her mother died when she was about five years old and in the tradition of many African American homes, Mahalia went to live with her aunt, Mahala Clark-Paul. 


     At the National Baptist Convention in August of 1956, Jackson met Rev. Dr. Ralph Abernathy who introduced her to Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Months later, they asked her to assist them in a fun-raiser by singing at a rally in Montgomery, Alabama for the bus boycott. Jackson lived with the Abernathy’s while in Alabama. The concert was on December 6, 1956, and raised significant money to support the cause. In a landmark case, the United States Supreme Court ruled that bus segregation was unconstitutional. However, the ruling was not implemented with all deliberate speed. When Jackson returned to Dr. Abernathy’s home early in 1957, she was surprised it had been bombed. In fact, there were four church bombings and two homes bombed on January 10, 1957. The bombings prohibited Drs. King and Abernathy from attending an organizing meeting of the Southern Leadership Conference on Transportation and Nonviolent Integration in Atlanta, Georgia.


     The Detroit Council on Human Rights sponsored an event on June 23, 1963, where over 125, 000 people gathered at Cabo Arena to hear Dr. King speak. In addition to the Officers of the SCLC, Jackson was also there as a supporter. It was the culmination of the Detroit Walk to Freedom which was the precursor to the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. It was there that Dr. King first spoke about the “Dream.” Two months later, Dr. King spoke to the largest crowd of Civil Rights activists in the history of the United States. According to Dr. Clarence B. Jones, former speechwriter, and advisor to Dr. King, as he was near completion, “Mahalia, who was sitting near the podium shouted, ‘Tell them about the dream Martin, tell them about the dream!” Dr. Jones further states that Dr. King moved his speech to the left of the podium and began the closing that resonated throughout history.


     Mahalia “Halie” Jackson (1911-1972) received multiple Grammy Awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award. Mahalia collapsed after a performance in Germany and later died on January 27, 1972, in Chicago at the age of 60. She was laid to rest at Providence Park Cemetery in metropolitan New Orleans. The Theater of Performing Arts and an elementary school (formerly McDonogh Number 36) was named in her honor by the City of New Orleans.


           (2024). MLK Birthday Issue, SCLC National Magazine, pp15-16.

About the Author

A six-generation Louisiananan, Dr. LeBan serves as President of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) New Orleans Chapter, the oldest SCLC affiliate in the Nation! He also serves with the American Red Cross assisting individuals and families across the country impacted by disasters.

Dr. Kathleen "Katie" Ethel Whickam

The New Orleans Voter's League supporting John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson (1960)

 (L-R) Atty. Alexander P. Tureaud, Rev. Dr. Avery Alexander, Ellis F. Hull, Sr., Kathleen "Katie" Whickam, unidentified, and Jackson V. Acox, Jr.

Dr. Kathleen "Katie" Ethel Whickam

Appointed by Dr. King to be the National SCLC Assistant Secretary

Home of the Metropolitan Women’s Voters League

2100 Dryades Street (now Oretha Castle Haley) - Voter Registration!

1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom

Dr. King speaking at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom!

Dr. King and SCLC Members at the Signing of the 1964 Civil Rights Act by President Lyndon B. Johnson

Dr. King and SCLC Members at the Signing of the 1965 Voting Rights Act by President Lyndon Johnson

SCLC GENERAL PHOTO GALLERY

Model of Resistance

The Baton Rouge Bus Boycott

 In 1953, there was a bus boycott in the City of Baton Rouge, Louisiana lead by Rev. Theodore Judson Jemison, Pastor of Mount Zion First Baptist Church and President of the National Baptist Convention. Almost two years later, his colleague and friend, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. called and visited Rev. Jemison to get information on conducting a non-violent direct action in the form of a bus boycott. Also, in 1955, the MIA (The Montgomery Improvement Association – 1955-1969) of clergy and civic leaders was formed with Rev. King as its President. Other leaders in the formation of the MIA were Rev. Dr. Ralph Abernathy, JoAnn Robinson and Edgar D. Nixon. As faith would have it or perhaps staged as claimed by some, Montgomery (AL) NAACP Branch Secretary Rosa Louise McCauley Parks refused to move to the back of the bus after paying the required fare and taking a seat. Her actions lead to a boycott of city busses which lasted 381 days. 

The SCLC - New Orleans Connection

Kathleen E. “Katie” Wickham, National SCLC

 President of the National Beauty Culturalist League, Inc. 

The Queen of Gospel, Mahalia “Halie” Jackson

 “Tell them about the Dream Martin, tell them about the Dream!”  

Strategy Meeting

International Longshoreman's Assn.

From 1953-1957, Dr. King made numerous visits to Louisiana for meetings, rallies, and other activities, especially the three largest cities of New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Shreveport which coincidentally all recently elected their first African American female Mayor. Dr. King had a very close relationship with New Orleanians Joseph Verrett, Marcus Neustadter, Constant Charles Dejoie, Sr., Rev. Abraham Lincoln Davis, Jr., Rev. Avery Alexander, Lloyd A. Richards, and Dr. Leonard Burns. They were all a part of the February 1, 1957 rally at the New Orleans Coliseum Arena located at 401 North Roman Street. Where despite inclement weather, more than two thousand gathered to hear Dr. King speak. Other locations in New Orleans where Dr. King spoke included: The Lawless Memorial Chapel at Dillard University, Union Bethel A.M.E. Church at 2321 Thalia Street, and the International Longshoreman's Association (ILA) Union Hall.  SCLC MEMBERS PICTURED (L-R): Clarence "Chink" Henry, Earl A. Amedee, Ernest "Dutch" Morial, Ellis Hull, Benny Ross, and Rev. A.L. Davis.

The SCLC / New Orleans Connection (cont.)

1957 Co-Founders of SCLC in New Orleans

 (PICTURED L-R) Clarence "Chink" Henry; Rev. Dr. Wyatt T. Walker; Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; Rev. A.L. Davis, Jr.; and Attorney (Judge) Israel Meyer Augustine

Honorable Rev. Abraham Lincoln Davis, Jr.

First local SCLC President and Pastor of New Zion B.C. "Don't Buy Where You Can't Work" Dryades Street Protest

Reverend Dr. Avery Ceasar Alexander

"STOP PAYING FOR SEGREGATION, Don't Buy At This Store" Campaign in front of F.W. Woolworth in New Orleans

New Zion B.C.

Organized in New Orleans

Organization of SCLC Initially, the group was called the Southern Negroes Leaders Conference. The meeting was called to order with worship on Thursday, January 10, 1957, at 2:00 PM by Rev. S.S. Seay, Sr. “On January 10, 1957, more than 60 Southern leaders gathered in Atlanta, Georgia to share and discuss their mutual problems of the Southern struggle.” The primary focus was the idea of a regional organization to fight injustices in segregated transportation. The name was changed from Southern Negroes Leaders Conference to the Southern Leadership Conference on Transportation and Nonviolent Integration. According to the “We Are SCLC” Informational Brochure: “Two months later, close on the heels of the successful Montgomery, Alabama bus boycott, SCLC came into being, in New Orleans, Louisiana.” The organization meeting was held in the City of New Orleans at New Zion Baptist Church, pastored by Rev. Abraham Lincoln Davis, Jr., the Southern Leadership Conference on Transportation and Nonviolent Integration was organized into the Southern Leadership Conference, and finally, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. 

SCLCNOLA Lifetime Achievement Award

CLASS OF 2021

Millie M. Charles

Theodore H. George, Sr.

Florida Carr Hargrove

Rev. Dr. Ernest Marcelle

Dr. Dwight McKenna

CLASS OF 2022

Rev. Dr. Samson "Skip" Alexander (posthumous) 

Barbara Lacen Keller

Atty. Robert K. "Bob" Moffett

Lloyd A. Richards

CLASS OF 2023 - 2024

Reverend Dr. Warren Joseph Ray, Jr.

Connie Goodly LaCour

Dr. Cynthia Willard Lewis

Rev. Otto W. Duncan, Jr.

CLASS OF 2025 NOMINEES

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Your support and contributions will enable us to meet our goals of community service and improve conditions. Donors may deduct contributions made to SCLCNOLA under IRS Section 170. Also, tax deducible bequest, devises, transfers or gifts under Section 2055, 2106, or 2522. Your generous donation will fund our mission.

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Copyright © Dr. L.A. LeBan, 2017 SCLC New Orleans Chapter - All Rights Reserved.


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