Channing E. Phillips | |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | Channing Emery Phillips (1928-03-23)March 23, 1928 Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Died | October 11, 1987(1987-10-11) (aged 59) New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Jane Celeste |
| Children | 5, includingChanning |
Channing Emery Phillips (March 23, 1928 – November 11, 1987) was anAmerican minister,civil rights leader, and social activist based inWashington, D.C. In 1968, he was the firstAfrican American in history to be placed in nomination forpresident of the United States by a major political party.
Phillips was born inBrooklyn. His father was aBaptist minister. He grew up in New York City andPittsburgh. He served in theUnited States Army in the late-1940s. Phillips earned a bachelor's degree fromVirginia Union University and a Master of Divinity from theColgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School. He also did postgraduate work atDrew University.[1]
Phillips moved toWashington, D.C., where he was a founding member of Coalition of Conscience. He also worked as a professor of divinity atHoward University. This conglomeration of local organizations worked to alleviate social problems in the capital. For seven years, Phillips served as the pastor ofLincoln Temple,United Church of Christ, in Washington.[2]
In 1968, Phillips headedRobert F. Kennedy's presidential campaign in D.C. He led the delegation from the District of Columbia to the1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Members of the District's Delegation were originally pledged toRobert F. Kennedy. But, following Senator Kennedy'sassassination in early June in California, the delegation voted instead to nominate Rev. Phillips as afavorite son.
He received 68 votes (behindHubert Humphrey,Eugene McCarthy andGeorge McGovern). By some accounts, Rev. Phillips was the first black person ever so nominated at a major party convention.[2] He was the first African American to receive votes for the presidential nomination at aDemocratic National Convention. AbolitionistFrederick Douglass received votes for president at the1888 Republican National Convention, but it does not appear from the official record that his name was put into nomination.[3][4]
Phillips said that his candidacy was meant to show that "the Negro vote must not be taken for granted."[2] At the time of his candidacy, Phillips was president of the Housing Development Corporation, a government-backed housing venture in the federal capital.[2]
In 1971 Phillips ran to become the first congressional delegate to theUnited States House of Representatives from D.C., but lost the Democratic primary toWalter E. Fauntroy. He was an advocate for full home-rule status for the District of Columbia.[2]
Phillips later moved back toNew York City in 1982. He became Minister of Planning and Coordination at theRiverside Church.
He died of cancer at the age of 59 and was survived by his wife, Jane, and their children, two sons:Channing D. Phillips, actingUnited States Attorney for the District of Columbia, and John E. Phillips of Manhattan, and three daughters: Sheilah P. Peterson and Tracy J. Phillips of Manhattan, and Jill C. Phillips of Oakland, California. The funeral was held at Riverside Church in New York.[2]
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