Lester Granger
Encyclopedia
Lester Blackwell Granger (September 16, 1896 - January 1976) was an African American civic leader who organized the Los Angeles, California
, chapter of the National Urban League
(NUL).
Granger was born Newport News, Virginia
, one of six sons. His mother was a teacher and his father was a doctor from Barbados
. He grew up in Newark, New Jersey
and graduated from Dartmouth College
in 1918.
He served in the U.S. Army
during World War I
, and worked briefly for the Newark chapter of the National Urban League.
In 1922, Granger was an extension worker with the New Jersey state vocational school for African American youth
in Bordentown, New Jersey
.
In 1930, he organized the Los Angeles chapter of the NUL. In 1934, he led the organization's efforts to promote trade unionism among African American workers and challenge racism by employers and labor organizations.
In 1940, Granger became the NUL’s assistant executive secretary in charge of industrial relations, and continued to work to integrate racist
trade union
s. In 1941, he led the NUL's effort to support the March on Washington proposed by A. Phillip Randolph, Bayard Rustin
and A. J. Muste
to protest racial discrimination in defense work and the Armed Forces
. In 1945, he began working with the Department of Defense
to desegregate the military, seeing first success with the Navy in February 1946. During the civil rights movement of the 1960s
, he insisted that the NUL continue its strategy of "education and persuasion," a view which the NUL continued to support.
He remained a leading figure in social work over the years, and in 1952, served as president of the National Conference of Social Work.
Granger retired from the NUL in 1961 and joined the faculty of Dillard University
in New Orleans, Louisiana
.
Granger was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha
fraternity.
Granger died in Alexandria, Louisiana
in January 1976.
graduate whose commitment to public service, social activism or nonprofit professions has been exemplary.http://www.dartmouth.edu/~tucker/publications/newsletters/spring2003/granger.html
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, chapter of the National Urban League
National Urban League
The National Urban League , formerly known as the National League on Urban Conditions Among Negroes, is a nonpartisan civil rights organization based in New York City that advocates on behalf of African Americans and against racial discrimination in the United States. It is the oldest and largest...
(NUL).
Granger was born Newport News, Virginia
Newport News, Virginia
Newport News is an independent city located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia. It is at the southeastern end of the Virginia Peninsula, on the north shore of the James River extending southeast from Skiffe's Creek along many miles of waterfront to the river's mouth at Newport News...
, one of six sons. His mother was a teacher and his father was a doctor from Barbados
Barbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint...
. He grew up in Newark, New Jersey
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
and graduated from Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
in 1918.
He served in the U.S. 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...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, and worked briefly for the Newark chapter of the National Urban League.
In 1922, Granger was an extension worker with the New Jersey state vocational school for African American youth
Bordentown School
The Bordentown School , was a residential high school for African-American students, located in Bordentown in Burlington County, New Jersey...
in Bordentown, New Jersey
Bordentown, New Jersey
Bordentown City is in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 3,924. Bordentown is located at the confluence of the Delaware River, Blacks Creek and Crosswicks Creek...
.
In 1930, he organized the Los Angeles chapter of the NUL. In 1934, he led the organization's efforts to promote trade unionism among African American workers and challenge racism by employers and labor organizations.
In 1940, Granger became the NUL’s assistant executive secretary in charge of industrial relations, and continued to work to integrate racist
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
s. In 1941, he led the NUL's effort to support the March on Washington proposed by A. Phillip Randolph, Bayard Rustin
Bayard Rustin
Bayard Rustin was an American leader in social movements for civil rights, socialism, pacifism and non-violence, and gay rights.In the pacifist Fellowship of Reconciliation , Rustin practiced nonviolence...
and A. J. Muste
A. J. Muste
The Reverend Abraham Johannes "A.J." Muste was a Dutch-born American clergyman and political activist. Muste is best remembered for his work in the labor movement, pacifist movement, and the US civil rights movement.-Early years:...
to protest racial discrimination in defense work and the Armed Forces
Armed Forces
Armed Forces is Elvis Costello's third album, his second with the Attractions, and the first to officially credit the Attractions on the cover. It was released in the UK by Radar Records and in the U.S. by Columbia in 1979...
. In 1945, he began working with the Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
to desegregate the military, seeing first success with the Navy in February 1946. During the civil rights movement of the 1960s
African-American Civil Rights Movement (1955-1968)
The African-American Civil Rights Movement refers to the movements in the United States aimed at outlawing racial discrimination against African Americans and restoring voting rights to them. This article covers the phase of the movement between 1955 and 1968, particularly in the South...
, he insisted that the NUL continue its strategy of "education and persuasion," a view which the NUL continued to support.
He remained a leading figure in social work over the years, and in 1952, served as president of the National Conference of Social Work.
Granger retired from the NUL in 1961 and joined the faculty of Dillard University
Dillard University
Dillard University is a private, historically black liberal arts college in New Orleans, Louisiana. Founded in 1930 incorporating earlier institutions that went back to 1869, it is affiliated with the United Church of Christ and the United Methodist Church....
in New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
.
Granger was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha
Alpha Phi Alpha
Alpha Phi Alpha is the first Inter-Collegiate Black Greek Letter fraternity. It was founded on December 4, 1906 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Its founders are known as the "Seven Jewels". Alpha Phi Alpha developed a model that was used by the many Black Greek Letter Organizations ...
fraternity.
Granger died in Alexandria, Louisiana
Alexandria, Louisiana
Alexandria is a city in and the parish seat of Rapides Parish, Louisiana, United States. It lies on the south bank of the Red River in almost the exact geographic center of the state. It is the principal city of the Alexandria metropolitan area which encompasses all of Rapides and Grant parishes....
in January 1976.
Legacy
The Tucker Foundation annually presents The Lester Granger 18 Award to a Dartmouth CollegeDartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
graduate whose commitment to public service, social activism or nonprofit professions has been exemplary.http://www.dartmouth.edu/~tucker/publications/newsletters/spring2003/granger.html