Eunice Carter
Encyclopedia
Eunice Roberta Hunton Carter (1899-1970) broke down racial and gender barriers by becoming one of New York's first African American
female lawyers, and then becoming one of the first district attorneys of color in the United States.
She was born in Atlanta, the daughter of William Alphaeus Hunton Sr. (founder of the black division of the Y.M.C.A.) and Addie Hunton (a social worker); she graduated from Smith College
in Northampton MA, receiving a Bachelor's and then a Master's degree. After a brief time as a social worker, she decided to study law. She became the first black women to receive a law degree from Fordham University
in New York City
(Gray, 2007, n.p). In mid-May 1933, Eunice Carter passed the Bar Exam in New York ("Two New York Women, 6).
She soon established a lengthy career in both law and international politics. , and in 1935 she became the first black woman assistant district attorney in the state of New York
.
As an assistant DA, Carter put together a massive prostitution racketeering case that led eventually to Mafia
boss Lucky Luciano
. Carter convinced New York District Attorney
Thomas Dewey
to personally prosecute the case. Luciano was convicted and served ten years, and was then deported. The case generated national fame for Dewey, which he rode to the New York statehouse, and to two unsuccessful runs for the White House. But while Dewey benefited from Carter's prosecutorial skills, he also seemed to have genuine respect for her; she frequently accompanied him to political events in Harlem and elsewhere, and reporters noted that she offered him advice ("Judge Paige," 6)
Active in the Pan-African Congress
in the 1920s, Carter later became active in the United Nations
as well, serving on committees that advocated for improving the status of women ("Eunice Carter," 14). In addition to her work for the UN, she also served on the Executive Committee of the International Council of Women, an organization with representatives from 37 countries ("U.S. Women's Unit," 9) Additionally, she served on the board of the Y.W.C.A. (Gray, 2007, n.p.)
Eunice Carter was the granddaughter of a slave, Stanton Hunton, who purchased his freedom shortly before the Civil War. She wed Lisle Carter, Sr., who was one of the first African American dentists in New York, and lived for many years in Harlem. The couple's only child, Lisle Carter, Jr., went on to practice law, and later worked in the Kennedy and Johnson Administrations.
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...
female lawyers, and then becoming one of the first district attorneys of color in the United States.
She was born in Atlanta, the daughter of William Alphaeus Hunton Sr. (founder of the black division of the Y.M.C.A.) and Addie Hunton (a social worker); she graduated from Smith College
Smith College
Smith College is a private, independent women's liberal arts college located in Northampton, Massachusetts. It is the largest member of the Seven Sisters...
in Northampton MA, receiving a Bachelor's and then a Master's degree. After a brief time as a social worker, she decided to study law. She became the first black women to receive a law degree from Fordham University
Fordham University
Fordham University is a private, nonprofit, coeducational research university in the United States, with three campuses in and around New York City. It was founded by the Roman Catholic Diocese of New York in 1841 as St...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
(Gray, 2007, n.p). In mid-May 1933, Eunice Carter passed the Bar Exam in New York ("Two New York Women, 6).
She soon established a lengthy career in both law and international politics. , and in 1935 she became the first black woman assistant district attorney in the state of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
As an assistant DA, Carter put together a massive prostitution racketeering case that led eventually to Mafia
Mafia
The Mafia is a criminal syndicate that emerged in the mid-nineteenth century in Sicily, Italy. It is a loose association of criminal groups that share a common organizational structure and code of conduct, and whose common enterprise is protection racketeering...
boss Lucky Luciano
Lucky Luciano
Charlie "Lucky" Luciano was an Italian mobster born in Sicily. Luciano is considered the father of modern organized crime in the United States for splitting New York City into five different Mafia crime families and the establishment of the first commission...
. Carter convinced New York District Attorney
District attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
Thomas Dewey
Thomas Dewey
Thomas Edmund Dewey was the 47th Governor of New York . In 1944 and 1948, he was the Republican candidate for President, but lost both times. He led the liberal faction of the Republican Party, in which he fought conservative Ohio Senator Robert A. Taft...
to personally prosecute the case. Luciano was convicted and served ten years, and was then deported. The case generated national fame for Dewey, which he rode to the New York statehouse, and to two unsuccessful runs for the White House. But while Dewey benefited from Carter's prosecutorial skills, he also seemed to have genuine respect for her; she frequently accompanied him to political events in Harlem and elsewhere, and reporters noted that she offered him advice ("Judge Paige," 6)
Active in the Pan-African Congress
Pan-African Congress
The Pan-African Congress was a series of five meetings in 1919, 1921, 1923, 1927, and 1945 that were intended to address the issues facing Africa due to European colonization of much of the continent....
in the 1920s, Carter later became active in 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...
as well, serving on committees that advocated for improving the status of women ("Eunice Carter," 14). In addition to her work for the UN, she also served on the Executive Committee of the International Council of Women, an organization with representatives from 37 countries ("U.S. Women's Unit," 9) Additionally, she served on the board of the Y.W.C.A. (Gray, 2007, n.p.)
Eunice Carter was the granddaughter of a slave, Stanton Hunton, who purchased his freedom shortly before the Civil War. She wed Lisle Carter, Sr., who was one of the first African American dentists in New York, and lived for many years in Harlem. The couple's only child, Lisle Carter, Jr., went on to practice law, and later worked in the Kennedy and Johnson Administrations.