North Carolina

sprinkleeninow

(20,544 posts) Sat Aug 3, 2019, 01:41 AM Aug 2019

Frank Porter Graham

A United Nations mediator and former University of North Carolina (UNC) president, Frank Porter Graham was an ardent supporter of Martin Luther King, Jr. Graham told King: “In your stand for nonviolence you [speak] for the immortal teachings of Jesus and the proved techniques of Gandhi, ultimately victorious over bombs, for faith over fear, understanding over prejudice, and love over hate” (Graham, 11 January 1957).

Graham was born in 1886, in Fayetteville, North Carolina, where his father was the superintendent of public schools. He graduated from college and law school at UNC and then received an MA in history from Columbia University. After serving in the Marines during World War I, he returned to North Carolina to teach history at UNC. Graham was outspoken in support of trade unions and public welfare, and authored an “Industrial Bill of Rights” calling for improved working conditions and protection of freedom of speech and assembly (“Seek to Clarify”).

In 1930 Graham was elected president of UNC. In 1946 President Harry S. Truman appointed Graham to the President’s Committee on Civil Rights. Among other recommendations, the Committee’s report suggested that Congress enact laws to end segregation, lynching, police discrimination, and voting prerequisites like the poll tax. When North Carolina Senator J. Melville Broughton died in 1949, the governor appointed Graham to fill the vacancy. Graham lost his bid for the Democratic nomination in 1950, saying of his opponents, “First they tried the red issue and failed, then they tried the black issue and won” (“Frank Graham at 80”). Graham then joined the United Nations as a representative to India and Pakistan, where he tried to negotiate peace in Kashmir. He remained at the United Nations for 19 years.

Excerpt from Stanford University.
https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/encyclopedia/graham-frank-porter

7 replies

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Frank Porter Graham (Original Post) sprinkleeninow Aug 2019 OP

the local primary school named in his honor dweller Aug 2019 #1

There IS light in the darkness. sprinkleeninow Aug 2019 #4

So much more to say about Dr Frank unc70 Aug 2019 #2

Yes, this documentary scheduled soon on public tv. eom sprinkleeninow Aug 2019 #3

Thank you for letting us know unc70 Aug 2019 #6

Glad! n/t sprinkleeninow Aug 2019 #7

Bill Friday projected a gentle soul as an educator. eom sprinkleeninow Aug 2019 #5

dweller

(24,938 posts)

1. the local primary school named in his honor

Reply to sprinkleeninow (Original post)

Sat Aug 3, 2019, 01:55 AM

Aug 2019

is and has always been a beacon,
and a leader in early
childhood education ...

both my my daughters attended full terms there, loved their early school years,
and are successful adult women that I AM VERY PROUD OF ❤️❤️

✌🏼

sprinkleeninow

(20,544 posts)

4. There IS light in the darkness.

Reply to dweller (Reply #1)

Sat Aug 3, 2019, 02:51 AM

Aug 2019

Brava x 2!

unc70

(6,322 posts)

2. So much more to say about Dr Frank

Reply to sprinkleeninow (Original post)

Sat Aug 3, 2019, 01:59 AM

Aug 2019

One of my local North Carolina heroes. I was fortunate to meet him after he retired back to Chapel Hill while I was an undergraduate. There is a very good documentary on his life titled "Dr. Frank". Also an interview of Graham by Bill Friday that is online. Friday was another hero who I later knew as a friend.