Mar 04

icon_angel2.gifI’ve just learned today of the loss of Lithangia Robinson. She was, in addition to many other firsts, the first African-American and first woman to chair the Fulton County Democratic Party.

Born into a family of former slaves, Lithangia Robinson proudly called herself a yellow dog Democrat. She was a tireless advocate for justice, never hesitating to lobby politicians to do the right thing.

“She would stand on issues by herself,” said her daughter, Angie Murray of Atlanta. “She made a difference all right.”

Mrs. Robinson was a leader in the state Democratic Party and attended three national conventions. “She enjoyed politics,” her daughter said. “She said her grandfather had encouraged her as a child in politics. He said it was a way to better ourselves, through politics. Her grandfather was born a slave, and my mother knew her great-grandfather who was a slave.”

And there’s this:

“She was the first to challenge legislators to do what was right for the people,” Ms. Williams said. “She could change opinions and get them to understand what it was like for other people. She understood the complexities of politics.”

I’m sorry never to have met Lithangia, but something tells me I would have liked her very much.

Comments (1)

Comments on this Entry:

(innerredneckexposed on
Mar 4, 2008 8:09 PM)

Mel:

one of the things I’ve been meaning to bring up is that I’d like to write up some of the FCDP’s history. Our loss today has made it apparent that if I’m serious it should be done ASAP. Would this be something yall are interested in?

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