Archibald Carey, Jr
Encyclopedia
Archibald J. Carey, Jr was an American lawyer, judge, politician, diplomat and clergyman from the south side
of Chicago
. He was an alderman for many years under the patronage of powerful African-American politician William L. Dawson. For many years Judge Carey was a major figure in Chicago's political and religious life. He won numerous awards for his oratorical skills and contribution to civic improvement.
Carey was a native of Chicago where he attended Wendell Phillips High School
. He was also a graduate of John Marshall Law School
in Chicago. He was twice elected to serve as an alderman from Chicago's Third Ward and served from 1947 to 1955. Mr. Carey served as an alternate delegate from the United States to the United Nations
from 1953 to 1956. Judge Carey was appointed Chair of the President's Committee on Government Employment Policy by President Dwight D. Eisenhower
on August 3, 1957. He was the first African-American to hold this position. He became a Circuit Court judge in 1966, serving until 1978 when he was forced by law to retire from the bench at 70 years of age. Despite this, he was reappointed to serve another year because of the court's large caseload. He also served as pastor of Quinn Chapel AME Church
in Chicago and was named pastor emeritus of the church in 1967.
Carey was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha
fraternity.
He died on April 21, 1981 in Chicago.
Here is excerpt from the end of his speech to the 1952 Republican National Convention
, which some have claimed was plagiarized by Martin Luther King Jr. in his celebrated "I have a dream
" speech, while others disagree.
"We, Negro Americans, sing with all loyal Americans: 'My country 'tis of thee,/Sweet land of liberty,/Of thee I sing./Land where my fathers died,/ Land of the Pilgrims' pride,/From every mountainside,/Let freedom ring!' That's exactly what we mean—from every mountain side, let freedom ring. Not only from the Green Mountains and White Mountains of Vermont and New Hampshire; not only from the Catskills of New York; but from the Ozarks in Arkansas, from the Stone Mountain in Georgia, from the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia—let it ring not only for the minorities of the United States, but for the persecuted of Europe, for the rejected of Asia, disfranchised of South Africa and for the disinherited of all the earth—may the Republican Party, under God, from every mountainside, 'LET FREEDOM RING.'"
South Side (Chicago)
The South Side is a major part of the City of Chicago, which is located in Cook County, Illinois, United States. Much of it has evolved from the city's incorporation of independent townships, such as Hyde Park Township which voted along with several other townships to be annexed in the June 29,...
of Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. He was an alderman for many years under the patronage of powerful African-American politician William L. Dawson. For many years Judge Carey was a major figure in Chicago's political and religious life. He won numerous awards for his oratorical skills and contribution to civic improvement.
Carey was a native of Chicago where he attended Wendell Phillips High School
Wendell Phillips Academy High School
Wendell Phillips Academy High School is a public 4-year high school located in the Bronzeville neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States. It is part of the Chicago Public Schools and is named for the noted American abolitionist Wendell Phillips...
. He was also a graduate of John Marshall Law School
John Marshall Law School (Chicago)
The John Marshall Law School is a law school in Chicago, Illinois, that was founded in 1899 and accredited by the American Bar Association in 1941. The school was named for the influential nineteenth century U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Marshall....
in Chicago. He was twice elected to serve as an alderman from Chicago's Third Ward and served from 1947 to 1955. Mr. Carey served as an alternate delegate from the United States to the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
from 1953 to 1956. Judge Carey was appointed Chair of the President's Committee on Government Employment Policy by President Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
on August 3, 1957. He was the first African-American to hold this position. He became a Circuit Court judge in 1966, serving until 1978 when he was forced by law to retire from the bench at 70 years of age. Despite this, he was reappointed to serve another year because of the court's large caseload. He also served as pastor of Quinn Chapel AME Church
Quinn Chapel AME Church (Chicago, Illinois)
Quinn Chapel AME Church, also known as Quinn Chapel of the A.M.E. Church, houses Chicago's oldest African-American congregation, formed by seven individuals as a nondenominational prayer group that met in the house of a member in 1844. In 1847, the group organized as a congregation of the African...
in Chicago and was named pastor emeritus of the church in 1967.
Carey 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.
He died on April 21, 1981 in Chicago.
Here is excerpt from the end of his speech to the 1952 Republican National Convention
1952 Republican National Convention
The 1952 Republican National Convention was held at the International Amphitheatre in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois from July 7 to July 11, 1952 and nominated the popular general and war hero Dwight D...
, which some have claimed was plagiarized by Martin Luther King Jr. in his celebrated "I have a dream
I Have a Dream
"I Have a Dream" is a 17-minute public speech by Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered on August 28, 1963, in which he called for racial equality and an end to discrimination...
" speech, while others disagree.
"We, Negro Americans, sing with all loyal Americans: 'My country 'tis of thee,/Sweet land of liberty,/Of thee I sing./Land where my fathers died,/ Land of the Pilgrims' pride,/From every mountainside,/Let freedom ring!' That's exactly what we mean—from every mountain side, let freedom ring. Not only from the Green Mountains and White Mountains of Vermont and New Hampshire; not only from the Catskills of New York; but from the Ozarks in Arkansas, from the Stone Mountain in Georgia, from the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia—let it ring not only for the minorities of the United States, but for the persecuted of Europe, for the rejected of Asia, disfranchised of South Africa and for the disinherited of all the earth—may the Republican Party, under God, from every mountainside, 'LET FREEDOM RING.'"