Jesse L. Douglas | |
|---|---|
 Douglas,c. 1975 | |
| Born | Jesse Lee Douglas (1930-08-19)August 19, 1930 New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Died | February 17, 2021(2021-02-17) (aged 90) |
| Education | |
| Occupations |
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| Spouse | |
| Children | 3 |
Jesse Lee Douglas Sr.[1][2] (August 19, 1930 – February 17, 2021) was an American civil rights activist. He was a key figure in the planning of the successfulSelma to Montgomery march.[2][3]
Douglas was born inNew Orleans on August 19, 1930. His father was Willie Lee Douglas, a chef for theUnited States Merchant Marine, and his mother was Isabella Douglas, a maid.[2] He was anAfrican American born withalbinism,[4] a trait that spared him from much of thepolice brutality of the era.[3] He studied atDillard University before transferring to and graduating fromLane College in 1959. He would later receive his Doctor of Ministry degree from theInterdenominational Theological Center inAtlanta, Georgia.[2]
Later in his life, Douglas continued to serve in the ministry until his retirement in 2004. He served at Christian Methodist Episcopal churches across the nation until that time.[5]
While studying at the ITC in 1960, Douglas joined the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee.[3] It was during this time that he metMartin Luther King Jr., and the interaction inspired Douglas to stage a desegregation protest at the cafeteria in the Georgia State Capitol.[2] The resulting lawsuit,Douglas and Reynolds vs. Vandenberg, resulted in all the facilities in the Atlanta capitol building being desegregated.[1]
For three years, from 1963 to 1966, Douglas was president of theMontgomery Improvement Association.[5] He was cited as an "egotistical" and "militant" figure by local police. Douglas denounced the behavior of workers from theSouthern Christian Leadership Conference personally toRandolph Blackwell, and later withdrew all support from the organization.[6]
It was in his role as president that he assisted in planning the third 1965Selma to Montgomery march, as at this time he was a close aide of Dr. King.[3] During the protest, Douglas was photographed alongside Dr. King andJohn Lewis, who would later serve in theUnited States Congress.[2] In newspapers nationwide, Douglas was misidentified as an "unidentified white man".[3]
On the day of mourning forRobert F. Kennedy's death in 1968, Douglas set up lodging for those participating in theMarks, Mississipi mule train so that they could attend services inBirmingham, Alabama.[7]
After his retirement, he spoke at manyMartin Luther King Jr. Day events.[5]
Douglas married Blanche Gordon in 1962, and the couple stayed married until her death in 2015.[2] They had three children: Adrienne, Jesse Jr., and Winston. He died at a nursing home inCharlotte, North Carolina, on February 17, 2021, aged 90. As his death remained unreported,The New York Times – despite having prepared an obituary – did not publish it until October 12, 2025.[2]
