biography
| name: |
Hooks, Benjamin (Lawson)
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| sex:
| male
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| lived:
| (1925– )
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| biography:
| Judge, public official, and civil rights reformer, born in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. A lawyer as well as an ordained minister, he was pastor of the Middle Baptist Church of Memphis (1956–72), and co-founder and vice-president of the Mutual Federal Savings and Loan Association (1955–69). He gained national recognition as the first African-American to serve on the Federal Communications Commission (1972–7), and succeeded Roy Wilkins as executive director of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (1977–93). He also served as producer and host of a number of television shows airing racial issues. |
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