Details

Subject(s)

• Spencer, Marian A. (Marian Alexander) 1920- [Browse]
• African American civil rights workers—Ohio—Cincinnati—Biography [Browse]
• Women civil rights workers—Ohio—Cincinnati—Biography [Browse]
• Civil rights workers—Ohio—Cincinnati—Biography [Browse]
• African Americans—Civil rights—Ohio—Cincinnati—History—20th century [Browse]
• Civil rights movements—Ohio—Cincinnati—History—20th century [Browse]
• Cincinnati (Ohio)—Race relations [Browse]
• Cincinnati (Ohio)—Biography [Browse]

Summary note

Marian Alexander Spencer was born in 1920 in the Ohio River town of Gallipolis, Ohio, one year after the "Red Summer" of 1919 that saw an upsurge in race riots and lynchings. Following the example of her grandfather, an ex-slave and community leader, Marian joined the NAACP at thirteen and grew up to achieve not only a number of civic leadership firsts in her adopted home city of Cincinnati, but a legacy of lasting civil rights victories. Of these, the best known is the desegregation of Cincinnati's Coney Island amusement park. She also fought to desegregate Cincinnati schools and to stop the introduction of observers in black voting precincts in Ohio. Her campaign to raise awareness of industrial toxic-waste practices in minority neighborhoods was later adapted into national Superfund legislation. In 2012, Marian's friend and colleague Dot Christenson sat down with her to record her memories. The resulting biography not only gives us the life story of remarkable leader but encapsulates many of the twentieth century's greatest struggles and advances. Spencer's story will prove inspirational and instructive to citizens and students alike.

Bibliographic references

Includes bibliographical references (pages 149-165) and index.

Reproduction note

Electronic reproduction. New York Available via World Wide Web.

Source of description

Description based on print version record.

ISBN

• 9780821445334 (electronic bk.)
• 0821445332 (electronic bk.)

Statement on language in description

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