Aurelia Browder
Encyclopedia
Aurelia Shines Browder Coleman (January 29, 1919 – February 4, 1971) was an African American
civil rights
activist. In April 1955, months before the historic arrest of Rosa Parks
, she was arrested for refusing to give up her bus seat to a white rider. She was the lead plaintiff in the Browder v. Gayle
action lawsuit. The case eventually made its way to the United States Supreme Court
, which found that bus segregation was unconstitutional.
At the time of the lawsuit, she was a housewife, but Browder had several careers throughout her life including that of a nurse mid-wife, seamstress, and business woman. She was an educated woman who earned a bachelor's degree in science with honors from Alabama State University
.
Browder was affiliated with several of the civil rights groups of the era, including the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the Montgomery Improvement Association
, and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference
(SCLC).
Her son Butler Browder has continued to live in Montgomery, Alabama.
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
civil rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
activist. In April 1955, months before the historic arrest of Rosa Parks
Rosa Parks
Rosa Louise McCauley Parks was an African-American civil rights activist, whom the U.S. Congress called "the first lady of civil rights", and "the mother of the freedom movement"....
, she was arrested for refusing to give up her bus seat to a white rider. She was the lead plaintiff in the Browder v. Gayle
Browder v. Gayle
Browder v. Gayle, 142 F. Supp. 707 , was a case heard before the United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama on Montgomery bus segregation laws...
action lawsuit. The case eventually made its way to the United States Supreme Court
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
, which found that bus segregation was unconstitutional.
At the time of the lawsuit, she was a housewife, but Browder had several careers throughout her life including that of a nurse mid-wife, seamstress, and business woman. She was an educated woman who earned a bachelor's degree in science with honors from Alabama State University
Alabama State University
Alabama State University, founded 1867, is a historically black university located in Montgomery, Alabama. ASU is a member school of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund.- History :...
.
Browder was affiliated with several of the civil rights groups of the era, including the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the Montgomery Improvement Association
Montgomery Improvement Association
The Montgomery Improvement Association was formed on December 5, 1955 by black ministers and community leaders in Montgomery, Alabama. Under the leadership of Martin Luther King, Jr...
, and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference
Southern Christian Leadership Conference
The Southern Christian Leadership Conference is an African-American civil rights organization. SCLC was closely associated with its first president, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr...
(SCLC).
Her son Butler Browder has continued to live in Montgomery, Alabama.