I am an avid genealogist. The past is very important to me. I spend a lot of time in cemeteries photographing tombstones to upload on website the FindAGrave.
I enjoy recognizing long dead people by putting memorials to them online. However, every once and a while something grabs me about a specific grave. It could be the name, or the dates or a ceramic photo. In those cases, I feel compelled to dig a little deeper. That's what this series of blogs is about: The tales behind those graves. Some of my subjects will be heroes. Some will be villains. Some will be victims. And some will linger in between, like most of us. However, don't be surprised if the tales are inherently tragic. These are grave tales. They all end in death.
It took me years -- literally years -- to find the grave of William Ashbie Hawkins in Mount Auburn Cemetery. The cemetery is recognized by the State of Maryland as a historic site. For years, it was the only place African-Americans could be buried in Baltimore City. However, despite its historic status, chest high weeds covered the grounds, maintenance buildings collapsed, monuments toppled over and sank into the earth. Even worse, human remains were clearly visible above ground in many places.
The horrible conditions at the cemetery inspired my wife Deborah and I to recruit director David Butler and his producer Lynda Meier to help create our award-winning documentary Sacred Ground: The Battle for Mount Auburn Cemetery. The shoot took years. While we were filming, I researched some of the more famous occupants to highlight in the film. To me, one of the most fascinating people buried at Mount Auburn was William Ashbie Hawkins, an African-American lawyer who won some pivotal cases which overturned segregation laws in Baltimore. I was convinced if Hawkins had been alive and active during the 1950s and 1960s, he would be remembered in the same breath as Rosa Parks, John Lewis and Martin Luther King, Jr. Sadly, he is essentially forgotten today.
To include Hawkins in the documentary, I needed to find his grave. And I tried. When I started at Mount Auburn Cemetery, there were only a handful of monuments listed on Findagrave. I photographed and recorded a couple thousand more during the production. I believe I searched every inch of that cemetery, and I certainly had the poison ivy to prove it. To understand how shamefully overgrown the cemetery was at the time, take a look the picture below taken of one of the roads through the grounds:
Oh, if you think I was exaggerating about finding human remains above ground, check out the picture below of a human skull fragment.
Eventually, the State of Maryland stepped in and sent prisoners to chop down the weeds and slowly regain control of the cemetery. While they worked I finally discovered the grave of Robert and Sarah Hawkins, William's parents, only about twenty feet south of the road leading to the Annapolis Road entrance. I went to the grave and discovered William buried in the plot behind them. They shared a headstone.
It is a modest headstone. I felt he deserved more. Unfortunately, it seems, even by the time of his death, his deeds were largely forgotten -- at least by the majority white community.
Let's look at his obituary.
The Evening Sun (Baltimore, Maryland), 3 April 1941, Thu:
Local Negro Lawyer Dies
William Ashbie Hawkins, one of the oldest and most prominent Negro attorneys in Baltimore, died today at Provident Hospital after an illness of seven months. He was 78 years old.
He was born in Lynchburg, Va., during the war between the States. He graduated from Morgan College and from the law department of Howard University in Washington and had practiced law here for the part of fifty years. He was also a school teacher here for the past fifty years. He was also a school teacher here for some time.
During his career edited The Lancet, a Baltimore publication of some thirty years ago engaged in furthering the cause of the Negro, and on two occasions was a delegate to the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The attorney also served as supreme chancellor of the Knights of Pythias of the Eastern and Western Hemispheres. He is survived by his wife and daughter.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the Hawkins home, 929 Arlington avenue, Govans.Okay. The newspaper mentioned that Hawkins was a prominent lawyer but they didn't discuss his specialty or the long battle he fought against segregation. Nor did they mention his run for the United States Senate. I hate to say it, but I was not surprised. I doubt the general readership of The Evening Sun in 1941 was appreciative of his campaign against segregation.
The newspaper did offer a more detailed biography nearly sixty years later. Here it is a story written by Carla E. Williams:
The Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, Maryland), 28 June 2000, Wed:
WILLIAM ASHBIE HAWKINS
One of Baltimore's first African-American lawyers, William Ashbie Hawkins spent his 50-year legal career fighting racial injustice. Hawkins graduated from Centenary Biblical Institute (later to become Morgan State University) in 1885 and went on to attend then Maryland University and graduate from Howard University. He completed a stint as a public school teacher and later settled into his law career after passing the Maryland Bar in 1894.
Hawkins initially set up his own law practice, but later joined forces with his brother-in-law, George W. F. McMechen, in the law firm of Hawkins and McMechen. For a number of years, Hawkins served as legal counsel for the Baltimore branch of the NAACP fighting for the civil rights of Baltimoreans of color.
In 1911, Hawkins, along with Warner T. McGuinn, successfully defended a black man attacked by whites who were disturbed by his decision to integrate their neighborhood. A 1910 law designed by Samuel West had made segregation and neighborhood covenants banning blacks legal. As a result of the case, that law was rejected as unconstitutional by the Criminal Court.
Later that same year, Hawkins, outraged by the poor sleeping and eating conditions for blacks on Chesapeake Bay ferry boats, took the Baltimore Chesapeake and Atlantic Railway Company to court. His complaint was dismissed; however, the Public Service Commission did recommend in February 1912 that the company upgrade its facilities for blacks.
Hawkins went on to fight another case in 1913, as counsel for John H. Gurry, regarding the violation of another segregation ordinance; both the Baltimore Criminal Court and the Maryland Court of Appeals agreed that the law was unconstitutional.
In his largest case, Hawkins appeared before the U.S. Supreme Court in 1917 in Buchanan v. Worley.
Hawkins also served as the counsel for the Afro-American Newspapers and the Grand Lodge of the Masons. He was a member of the National Bar Association, the Monumental Bar Association and was almost selected by the Republican Party as a candidate for the Senate.
He is buried at the historic Mt. Auburn Cemetery in Southwest Baltimore.That brief biography certainly provides a much better overview of Hawkins' career than his perfunctory obituary, but it doesn't reflect the national significance of his work. Lawyers from all around the country used Hawkins' legal arguments to defeat segregation laws in their own jurisdictions. Then again, you'd never realize that reading The Baltimore Sun or The Evening Sun at the time either. Neither of those establishment papers offered Hawkins any kudos for his work. For example, look at the story below about the Gurry case. They don't even mention him.
The Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, Maryland), 25 April 1913, Fri:
SEGREGATION LAW VOID
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Judge Elliott Declares The Ordinance Unenforceable.
On the ground that no reasonable interpretation would make the segregation ordinance enforceable, Judge Elliott, in an opinion handed down yesterday, held the law to be invalid and sustained the demurrer to the indictment against John H. Gurry, colored, for alleged violation of the ordinance.
Gurry was indicted on the charge of violating the ordinance by moving on June 17, 1911, into 581 Laurens street, in a white block. Argument on the demurrer was heard by Judge Elliott while presiding in the Criminal Court last year.
An enforcement of the ordinance, the Court holds, would depopulate every block in the city now containing both white and colored persons, and then goes on:
"When, then, by the definition in the ordinance a block can be at the same time both a white block and a colored block, it would seem unnecessary to say that the ordinance is invalid and unenforceable to punish either white or colored persons."
In conclusion the Judge stated that there is no such reasonable interpretation of the ordinance as to make Gurry amenable to its penalty.
A new ordinance on the same subject is expected to be introduced in the City Council.I do not mean to indicate that The Sunpapers ignored Hawkins. To the contrary, he was frequently mentioned in its pages and not all of the references were favorable. Look at this story from earlier in 1910 about Mr. Hawkins' attempt at blockbusting.
The Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, Maryland), 13 July 1910, Wed:
WOULD KEEP OUT NEGROES
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McCulloh Street And Madison Avenue
Association Meets.
The McCulloh Street and Madison Avenue Property Protective Association, an organization formed last week for the protection of McCulloh street, Madison avenue and Eutaw Place from the invasion of negro residents held its second meeting last night in Norwood's Hall, Druid Hill avenue and Laurens street.
The formation of the association was due to the purchasing of a house in the 1800 block of McCulloh street by W. Ashbie Hawkins, a colored lawyer, which he subrented to his law partner.
The meeting last night was enthusiastic and means of getting rid of the undesirable neighbors were discussed. It was suggested that a committee of three lawyers be appointed and devise means of ridding the neighborhood of what the members called a great nuisance. Mr. Milton Dashiell, 1110 McCulloh street, a prominent lawyer, was appointed on the committee.
The next meeting will be held Tuesday night at Norwood's Hall.Is it just me, or does it seem to me that the reporter favored the new association's goal of driving the undesirable Hawkins from the neighborhood?
In fact, The Baltimore Sun endorsed City Councilman Samuel L. West, the author of the segregationist law. The law was referred to as "The West Ordinance." The ordinance, in brief, prohibited blacks from moving into white blocks and whites from moving into black blocks. (Interestingly, in an interview during the campaign, Councilman West said "Chinamen" should be considered white in regards to the new law, not colored.) Here's their editorial:
The Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, Maryland), 30 April 1911, Sun:
The West Ordinance
The Sun agrees with those who say that it would be most unfortunate if at every municipal election hereafter no Democrat, however much he might disapprove of the candidate nominated by his own party, could venture to vote for his Republican opponent for fear that the latter, if elected to the City Council, might vote to repeal the West Ordinance. The existence of such an issue in municipal politics is of all things to be regretted, for it obscures all other issues. But there is one way, and only one way, to get rid of it, and it is a very simple one: Let the white people and sensible colored people also of the ward which Mr. West, the author of the ordinance represents, laying aside for once all political considerations, unite in re-electing Mr. West by an overwhelming majority.
If they will do that, it is safe to predict that no politician, Republican or Democrat, will ever thereafter venture to reopen the question by threatening to repeal the ordinance. It will be recognized as a settled question -- as dead as secession -- and soon be completely forgot -- a consummation devoutly to be wished. Baltimore will then enjoy the unique distinction of having settled this ugly problem in a peaceful and orderly way instead of resorting to the methods of violence or intimidation which have been so frequently employed in the cities of the North and West as well as the South.
The ordinance is absolutely fair and just to the colored people as well as the white. Now that it has become law, let the people by their votes make it manifest that they do not intend that it shall be disturbed -- at any rate not before it has been fairly tried.
The only practicable way in which to do that is, as we have said, to re-elect its author, Mr. Samuel L. West, by a decisive majority.As the Baltimore Sun hoped, Samuel L. West won re-election. However, thanks to William Ashbie Hawkins and his colleagues the West Ordinance was thrown out -- as were subsequent attempts by Samuel West to codify segregation in municipal law.
However, despite the racist leanings of the newspaper, their attitude towards Hawkins softened as the years progressed. They frequently used him as a respected spokesperson for the African American community regarding local political issues. They also covered his run for the Senate. Here's a story:
The Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, Maryland), 17 August 1920, Tue:
NEGROES PICK NOMINEE TO OPPOSE O.E. WELLER
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W. Ashbie Hawkins, Colored Lawyer, Chosen To Run For U.S. Senate.
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WILL GO ON BY PETITION
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Speeches At Meeting Declared Action Is Reprisal On Regular
Republican Organization For Attitude Toward Black Voters.
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A committee of representative negroes, indignant at the refusal of Republican leaders to recognize them with patronage, met last night at Trinity Baptist Church, Druid Hill avenue and McMechen street, and nominated W. Ashbie Hawkins, color, attorney and leader among negroes, as a candidate for the United States Senate.
Attorney Hawkins will compete in the election next November as an independent Republican, opposing O. E. Weller, Republican, and John Walter Smith, Democrat. The 40 or 50 negroes who unanimously voted for his selection as a standard-bearer of the negro race, declared they represent an overwhelming proportion of the negro vote in this city.
Under provisions of the State Election law it will be necessary for the committee to secure the signatures of 500 voters to petition for Attorney Hawkins' nomination. The petition must be filed with the Secretary of State. No difficulty in securing that number of signatures will be experienced, the committee declared.
Form Independent League.
They formed the Independent Republican League, elected officers and designated an executive committee to prosecute a vigorous campaign throughout the State for their candidate.
Spokesmen for the "committee of forty" vouchsafed the opinion that their candidate will not be able to defeat his rivals for the Senatorial seat, but observed that if they can line up the negro vote behind Attorney Hawkins they can insure the defeat of Mr. Weller, whom they excoriated in speeches as an "ingrate" and "an unworthy representative of the Republican party."
The committee unanimously adopted resolutions prepared by Arthur M. Bragg, editor, 1425 McCulloh street, in which they state their refusal to vote for the Republican candidate, Mr. Weller, because, they say, to do so would be to "indorse the unrighteous insult to the black group of Republicans," who have been denied their rights by "unworthy evasion and crooked devices." The negroes declared that "a return to Republican principles can be realized only through the defeat, especially, of O. E. Weller, the supreme representative of the lily white feeling within the Republican party."
Admission By Invitation.
The negroes assembled in the conference room of the church in response to invitations from the leading spirits among the colored race. Although they were careful to see that none but "invited guests" was allowed to participate in the deliberations, their speeches could be heard many yards from the meeting room. when J. Stewart Davis, colored, attorney, placed Hawkins' name in nomination the negroes applauded generously.
Speeches were made by the Rev. George F. Bragg, Dr. J. R. L. Diggs, John H. Murphy, W. Norman Bishop, Attorney Davis, Linwood G. Kogler and Dr. E. M. Boyle. Attorney Davis was elected permanent president, the other officers being: Mayfield Boyle, vice-president; William Langley, treasurer, and W. Norman Bishop, secretary. The executive committee, composed of Arthur M. Bragg; Attorney Davis; William Langley, commission merchant; Carl Murphy, editor; Daniel A. Richardson; W. Norman Bishop, attorney; Dr. Mayfield Boyle; William R. Proctor and Linwood G. Kogler, insurance broker, was given "unlimited authority" in arranging for the campaign, and was ordered to leave no stone unturned to line up the negro vote behind Attorney Hawkins.
Resolutions Adopted.
The resolutions adopted by the committee are:
Whereas, the Republican organization, both in the city and State, apparently, at least, has actually deserted Republican principles, and one, of the type of said organization, has been selected by them as the Republican candidate for the United States Senate; and whereas to vote for such candidate would be to indorse the unrighteous insult to the black group of Republicans, therefore, it is the conviction of this conference of Independent Republicans that the maintenance of the self-respect of our own people demand the placing on the official ballot the name of a Republican for whom, in good conscience, they may cast their suffrage.
The Independent Republican League, in thus acceding to such evident demand upon the part of self-respecting black voters of the State of Maryland, and presenting the name of a citizen worthy of their support, begs leave to state that the paramount issue with the people of the black group is to hurl back and refute the contemptuous insult and outrage perpetrated upon them.
The Republican organization, in this State and city, refuses to accede to, in letter and spirit, the fundamental principles of the National Republican Party, as incorporated in our Constitution in the Fourteenth and Fifteenth amendments, and continually, by unworthy evasion and crooked devices hinders a translation and interpretation of such principles of liberty and equality.
The present municipal administration, won by the large assistance of the black group, has broken every promise, and has completely humiliated and insulted the people of our group.
The entire organization in the State and city, so shamefully disproportionately represent the mind of Republicans of this State, that a return to Republican principles can only be realized through the defeat, especially, of O. E. Weller, the supreme representative of the Lily White feeling within the Republican party.
The sustaining of our honor and self-respect constitutes the overshadowing issue in the present campaign, and we call upon every loyal member of the black group, throughout the entire State, to cast their suffrage for W. Ashbie Hawkins, the fearless champion and exponent of the principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity; and thus administer a stinging rebuke to those who would insult and outrage the manhood of black citizens.
The negroes have their guns trained especially on Mayor Broening and condemn him for his failure to give the negro positions in the municipal government which, they feel, they deserve after the overwhelming majority they rolled up in the Fourteenth and Seventeenth wards, admittedly negro districts.
I hope these stories give you a taste of Mr. Hawkins' life and his struggles. Sadly, you are not going to find much about him today on the internet. The best resource is Dennis Anthony Doster's dissertation abstract "To Strike For Right, To Strike With Might": African Americans And The Struggle For Civil Rights In Baltimore, 1910-1930. It dives very deeply into Hawkins' work. You can read it HERE.
I would also strongly recommend Antero Pietila's book Not in My Neighborhood: How Bigotry Shaped a Great American City. Pietila depicts Hawkins' ongoing battle against Baltimore's segregation laws as almost single combat against Baltimore City Councilman Samuel West. It's a fascinating book. Every Baltimorean who wants to understand how vast swaths of the city became a wasteland should read it.
Here's the Amazon link:
February is Black History Month. If you want to take the opportunity to honor a forgotten warrior in the battle for civil rights, head over to Mount Auburn Cemetery and lay a flower on the grave of William Ashbie Hawkins. You'll find his grave easier to find than I did. I marked its location using the Findagrave phone app.
Remember, there is a story behind every grave. You never know what you're missing when you walk past one....
Grave Tales:
My novel Chapel Street is now available! You can buy the Kindle and paperback at Amazon and the Nook, paperback and hardcover at Barnes & Noble. Chapel Street is the tale of a young man battling a demonic entity that has driven members of his family to suicide for generations. It was inspired by an actual haunting.
Learn more about the book, click
Here.
Listen to me read some chapters here:
Read about the true haunting that inspired the novel here:
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 1, An IntroductionThe Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 2, The HouseThe Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 3, This Is UsThe Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 4, ArrivalThe Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 5, MethodologyThe Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 6, Clara's Tale, Pt. 1The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 7, Clara's Tale, Pt. 2The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 8, My Tale, Pt. 1The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 9, My Tale, Pt. 2The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 10, My Tale, Pt. 3The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 11, Natalia's Tale, Pt. 1The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 12, Natalia's Tale, Pt. 2The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 13, John's Tale, Pt. 1 The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 14, John's Tale, Pt. 2The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 15, Come Inside!The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 16, Marion's Tale, Pt. 1The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 17, Marion's Tale, Pt. 2The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 18, Jeanne's Tale, Pt. 1The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 19, Jeanne's Tale, Pt. 2The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 20, Lisa's TaleThe Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 21, Recap, Pt. 1The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 22, Recap, Pt. 2The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 23, Recap, Pt. 3
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