Edith Savage-Jennings
| Edith Savage-Jennings | |
|---|---|
 Edith Savage-Jennings speaking in the 2017 Women's March in Trenton, New Jersey | |
| Born |
Edith Savage Jacksonville, Florida |
| Nationality | American |
| Known for | Civil Rights Activist |
Edith Savage-Jennings (b. 1924)[1] is an American civil rights leader from New Jersey.
Early life
Savage was born in Jacksonville, Florida, one of six children in her family. Her parents died when she was two years old. Following the death of her parents, Savage and her siblings went to live with her aunt who moved the family to New Jersey.[1]
At age ten, Savage met First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt when she was selected to hand the First Lady flowers on behalf of the New Jersey State Federation of Colored Women's Clubs.[2] Although told not to say anything, Savage thanked Roosevelt which led to the two becoming pen pals for the remainder of Roosevelt's life.[2][3]
At twelve years old she joined the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).[4]
Civil Rights leader
At only 13 years old Savage helped to integrate the Capital Theater in Trenton, New Jersey when she refused to sit in the balcony which was the designated seating area for blacks.[2][3] Savage's first job was in the sheriff's office where she continued to speak out against discrimination.[3] In 1957 she was introduced to civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr., when Savage was raising funds for King's Southern Leadership Conference.[5] King and his wife, Coretta Scott King became Savage's close friends.[3] After Martin's death, Savage worked with Coretta to found the King Center.[5]
In 1964, Savage and then first lady of New Jersey Helen Meyner went on a presidential mission to integrate a school in Mississippi. Savage and Meyner met with local women in an effort to convince the locals to allow for the school to be integrated peacefully.[6] Later that same year she organized the New Jersey Democratic Coalition.[7]
Savage was the coordinator of the Mid-Atlantic States Poor People’s Campaign of SCLC in 1968. President Jimmy Carter appointed her as a U.S. Delegate at the World Women’s Conference in Houston, Texas in 1977.[7]
Personal life
On October 28, 1993, Savage married C. Donald Jennings. Rosa Parks attended the wedding and Coretta Scott King served as maid of honor. Her husband died on June 19, 2011 at age 94.[8]
Awards and honors
Savage-Jennings has received over 100 awards and honors for her work in Civil Rights.[7] In 2016 she was inducted into the New Jersey Women's Hall of Fame.[7] The city of Trenton proclaimed February 19, 2016 Edith Savage-Jennings Day.[4]
Savage-Jennings has been the guest to the White House under every President of the United States from Franklin Delano Roosevelt through Barack Obama.[2][7][1]
References
- 1 2 3 Mulvaney, Nicole (27 June 2014). "Edith Savage-Jennings honored by Brooklyn human rights organization, museum renamed for her". NJ.com. Retrieved 2016-07-22.
- 1 2 3 4 Rojas, Christina (18 February 2016). "N.J. civil rights leader, friend of MLK gets her own day". NJ.com. Retrieved 2016-07-17.
- 1 2 3 4 Rojas, Christina (15 April 2014). "Edith Savage-Jennings, civil rights activist who knew Martin Luther King Jr., speaks at TCNJ". NJ.com. Retrieved 2016-07-21.
- 1 2 Parker, L.A. (20 February 2016). "L.A. PARKER: Edith Savage-Jennings honored as living civil rights icon by Trenton". The Trentonian. Retrieved 2016-07-17.
- 1 2 "Rutgers, The State University of New Jerey" (PDF). Rutgers University. 2016.
- ↑ Pizzi, Jenna (14 February 2015). "Civil rights leader Edith Savage Jennings: Parent engagement and education is the solution". NJ.com. Retrieved 2016-07-17.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Edith Savage Jennings (Class of 2011): Civil Rights Icon". New Jersey Women's Hall of Fame. 2016-01-07. Archived from the original on 2016-01-07. Retrieved 2016-07-19.
- ↑ "C. Donald Jennings's Obituary on The Trentonian". The Trentonian. Retrieved 2016-07-17.