Z. Alexander Looby
Encyclopedia
Zephaniah Alexander Looby (April 8, 1899 – March 24, 1972) was a lawyer
active in the American Civil Rights Movement. He was born in Antigua
, and moved to the United States
in 1914. He attended Howard University
as an undergraduate where he became a member of the Omega Psi Phi
fraternity. Looby earned his bachelor's degree from Howard University in 1922. He went on to earn a law degree from Columbia University
in 1925 and a doctorate in jurisprudence from New York University
in 1926.
After graduating from New York University, Looby moved to Nashville where he took a job as an assistant professor at Fisk University
. In May, 1951, Looby was elected to the Nashville, Tennessee
City Council, along with another lawyer, Robert Lillard, the first African Americans to be elected since 1911. He helped found the Kent College of Law in Nashville.
In 1960 Looby defended the students arrested in the Nashville sit-ins
. As a result of his support of the students, his house was dynamited on April 19, 1960. Neither he nor his wife were harmed in the bombing.
Looby died on March 24, 1972, at Hubbard Hospital after a prolonged period of illness. He is buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Nashville.
In 1976, the government of Nashville named a new library and community center in Looby's honor. In 1982, the Nashville Bar Association posthumously awarded him membership, which had been refused him in the 1950s.
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
active in the American Civil Rights Movement. He was born in Antigua
Antigua
Antigua , also known as Waladli, is an island in the West Indies, in the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean region, the main island of the country of Antigua and Barbuda. Antigua means "ancient" in Spanish and was named by Christopher Columbus after an icon in Seville Cathedral, Santa Maria de la...
, and moved to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1914. He attended Howard University
Howard University
Howard University is a federally chartered, non-profit, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States...
as an undergraduate where he became a member of the Omega Psi Phi
Omega Psi Phi
Omega Psi Phi is a fraternity and is the first African-American national fraternal organization to be founded at a historically black college. Omega Psi Phi was founded on November 17, 1911, at Howard University in Washington, D.C.. The founders were three Howard University juniors, Edgar Amos...
fraternity. Looby earned his bachelor's degree from Howard University in 1922. He went on to earn a law degree from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
in 1925 and a doctorate in jurisprudence from New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
in 1926.
After graduating from New York University, Looby moved to Nashville where he took a job as an assistant professor at Fisk University
Fisk University
Fisk University is an historically black university founded in 1866 in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. The world-famous Fisk Jubilee Singers started as a group of students who performed to earn enough money to save the school at a critical time of financial shortages. They toured to raise funds to...
. In May, 1951, Looby was elected to the Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
City Council, along with another lawyer, Robert Lillard, the first African Americans to be elected since 1911. He helped found the Kent College of Law in Nashville.
In 1960 Looby defended the students arrested in the Nashville sit-ins
Nashville sit-ins
The Nashville sit-ins, which lasted from February 13 to May 10, 1960, were part of a nonviolent direct action campaign to end racial segregation at lunch counters in downtown Nashville, Tennessee...
. As a result of his support of the students, his house was dynamited on April 19, 1960. Neither he nor his wife were harmed in the bombing.
Looby died on March 24, 1972, at Hubbard Hospital after a prolonged period of illness. He is buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Nashville.
In 1976, the government of Nashville named a new library and community center in Looby's honor. In 1982, the Nashville Bar Association posthumously awarded him membership, which had been refused him in the 1950s.