James Cameron (civil-rights activist)

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James Cameron (February 23, 1914 in La Crosse, Wisconsin - June 11, 2006 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin) was a civil rights activist. He founded America's Black Holocaust Museum in Milwaukee.

James Cameron was founder of America's Black Holocaust Museum and America's only living survivor of a lynching until he died. In August, 1930 when Cameron was 16 years old, he was falsely accused of participating in the murder of a young white man in Marion, Indiana.

As a result, Cameron witnessed a mob of 15,000 people beat and lynch his two friends. Miraculously, Cameron survived his severe beating and attempted lynching; however, he was immediately sentenced to four years in the state prison for accessory before the fact to manslaughter. Ironically, no one was ever accused, arrested or charged with the murder of Cameron's teenage friends, nor for the beating Cameron suffered.

Because of this personal experience, Cameron dedicated his life to promoting civil rights, racial peace, unity and equality. His commitment was evident by his founding of three NAACP chapters in Indiana during the 1940s, and becoming the first president of the NAACP Madison County Branch in Anderson, Indiana.

Cameron also served as the Indiana State Director of Civil Liberties from 1942-1950. In this capacity Cameron reported to then Governor of Indiana , Henry F. Schricker on violations of the "equal accommodations" laws to end previously mandated segregation.

During his eight-year tenure, Cameron investigated over 25 incidents of civil rights infractions and faced many acts of violence and death threats for his work.

Repeated threats of violence against his family forced Cameron to relocate to his birth state of Wisconsin in the early 1950s. Cameron continued his work in civil rights by assisting in protests to end segregated housing in the City of Milwaukee.

During the 1960's, Cameron participated in both marches on Washington; the first with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and the second with Dr. King's widow Coretta Scott King and the Reverend Jesse Jackson.

During the seventies Cameron published hundreds of articles and booklets detailing civil rights and occurrences of racial injustices.

In 1988, Cameron founded America's Black Holocaust Museum to document racial injustices suffered by people of African heritage.

Cameron died on June 11, 2006 after suffering from lymphoma for about five years. He is buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Milwaukee.

The Milwaukee Common Council is working to rename four blocks of West North Avenue, from North King Drive to North 7th Street, in honor of James Cameron, the name is honorary and was approved by the council's Public Works Committee on September 13, 2006 it now goes before the full council. ,^[1]