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bigots in direct controversy within their own community. In order to make his point about the only way to move forward, Hawkins escorted
Dorothy Counts, a young black girl to Harding High School, a white school in Charlotte. On September 4, 1957 Hawkins and Counts walked through a shower of spit and insults to integrate the first Mecklenburg County School. His actions that day created a lot of stir in both the white and African-American neighborhoods, creating a national name for Hawkins. From then on Hawkins became a prominent civil rights activist in Charlotte. In 1961 Hawkins led a
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differed over the best way to end school desegregation. Kelly
Alexander wanted to sue the city of Charlotte over civil injustice. Hawkins believed that a confrontational approach was best through utilizing media coverage to help mobilize citizens, arguing "The only way to move forward is to engage
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Due to his disagreement with NAACP policies and in an attempt to distance himself from their "communist" label, Hawkins resigned his membership in 1958 and created the
Mecklenburg Organization for Political Affairs (MOPA). MOPA used community activists within the African-American community to call
86:. He frequently led demonstrations outside the Mercy, Charlotte Memorial, Presbyterian and Good Samaritan hospitals in the Charlotte area. These demonstrations usually attracted a lot of press and generated controversy in the medical community. Hawkins continued to protest by writing
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for desegregation. Members took part in marches, picketing, protests, boycotts, and sit-in's, usually near schools or hospitals in the
Charlotte area. Hawkins work helped successfully integrate many restaurants downtown including those in Belk's and Ivey's department stores.
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King was originally scheduled to stop in
Charlotte and speak at one of Hawkins' campaign events, but changed his plans and went to Memphis instead, where he was assassinated only a few days later.
22:(1923–2007) was an American civil rights activist and dentist. He was the first African-American to run for Governor of North Carolina. He fought to desegregate Charlotte schools and businesses.
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Throughout his life
Hawkins was an ardent supporter of equal rights and integration. He continued his work, giving speeches and calling for change right up until his death in 2007.
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ordered
Memorial to desegregate their maternity and dentistry wards. Hawkins continued to protest until 1963 when the hospital declared an open-door policy for all patients.
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claiming that the hospitals were breaking their nondiscrimination policy that was one of the conditions of them receiving federal funding. By the end of 1962 the
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still holds an open file on the event. Many people believe the bombings were resistance to efforts of desegregation that all four men were part of.
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Richardson, Michael B. (2005). ""Not
Gradually... But Now": Reginald Hawkins, Black Leadership, and Desegregation in Charlotte, North Carolina".
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of Irwin Avenue Junior High School. He urged
African-American students to stay home instead of attending a second-rate educational institution.
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in 1948. Returning to
Charlotte, Hawkins went on to earn a Bachelor (1956) and then Master of Divinity (1973) from the Presbyterian affiliated
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In 1962 Hawkins filed suit against the North Carolina Dental Society for discrimination due to the fact they would not let him practice at
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On November 22, 1965, four bombs exploded across Charlotte in the span of about 15 minutes. Hawkins' home was hit as well as the homes of
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had already been placed in. No one was ever arrested for the bombings even though there was a statewide manhunt, and the
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in a three-way race, earning 18.52% of the vote; Scott went on to win the election. He ran for governor again in
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50:fraternity. He earned a degree in dentistry from
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273:"50 years ago: Bombs ignited night of terror"
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249:"The Militant Dentist: Dr. Reginald Hawkins"
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