Wiley Austin Branton

Wiley Austin Branton (1923-1988) was a prominent civil rights lawyer and activist from Arkansas.^[1] Branton rose to prominence after filing the suit against the Little Rock School Board which would eventually be heard before the Supreme Court.^[2] After the trial, Branton moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where he acted as the executive director of the Voter Education Project. He then spent time working for the government as the executive director of for the President's Council on Equal Opportunity and a lawyer for the Department of Justice. He also served as the Dean of Howard University School of Law for five years.^[3]

Early Life

Branton was born December 13, 1923, in Pine Bluff, Arkansas.^[4] His mother, Pauline, was a teacher and his father, Leo, operated a taxi business. Despite growing up with certain material comforts, Branton was still required to attend segregated primary and secondary schools before enrolling in Arkansas Agricultural, Mechanical, and Normal College. Branton managed his father's company during his time in school.^[5] In 1943, his education was put on pause when he was drafted into the United States Army. By the end of World War II, Branton had earned the position of master sergeant in an Engineer Aviation Battalion.^[5] His time in the military was critical to his developing understanding of injustice in the world.

After returning home, Branton resumed his studies whilst also inheriting his father's business and joining the NAACP.^[6]

^ Whitaker, Joseph D. "WILEY A. BRANTON DIES". The Washington Post. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
^ "Encyclopedia of Arkansas". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Retrieved 2021-04-15.
^ Cabiao, Howard (2011-06-21). "Wiley Austin Branton (1923-1988) •". Retrieved 2021-04-15.
^ Cabiao, Howard (2011-06-21). "Wiley Austin Branton (1923-1988) •". Retrieved 2021-11-27.
^ ^a ^b Jacoway, Elizabeth (2008-01-01). Turn Away Thy Son: Little Rock, the Crisis That Shocked the Nation. University of Arkansas Press. ISBN 978-1-55728-878-3.
^ Finkelman, Paul (2009). Encyclopedia of African American History, 1896 to the Present: J-N. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-516779-5.

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[1] Whitaker, Joseph D. "WILEY A. BRANTON DIES". The Washington Post. Retrieved 4 July 2021.

[2] "Encyclopedia of Arkansas". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Retrieved 2021-04-15.

[3] Cabiao, Howard (2011-06-21). "Wiley Austin Branton (1923-1988) •". Retrieved 2021-04-15.

[4] Cabiao, Howard (2011-06-21). "Wiley Austin Branton (1923-1988) •". Retrieved 2021-11-27.

[:0-5] Jacoway, Elizabeth (2008-01-01). Turn Away Thy Son: Little Rock, the Crisis That Shocked the Nation. University of Arkansas Press. ISBN 978-1-55728-878-3.

[6] Finkelman, Paul (2009). Encyclopedia of African American History, 1896 to the Present: J-N. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-516779-5.

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