Born: 1919 (Montgomery, Alabama)
Biography:
Aurelia Shines Browder Coleman was an African-American civil rights activist born on January 29, 1919, in Montgomery, Alabama. Throughout her life, Browder played a crucial role in the fight for racial equality, leaving an indelible mark on history. She was the sole economic support for her six children after being widowed and embarked on various careers, including working as a seamstress, nurse midwife, and teacher. Browder was a woman of remarkable strength and intelligence, as described by Jo Ann Gibson Robinson in her memoir, well-read, highly intelligent, fearless.
Browder’s pursuit of education was equally remarkable. In her thirties, she completed high school and later earned a bachelor’s degree in science from Alabama State University. Graduating with honors, Browder’s academic achievements led her to become a member of the National Alpha Kappa Mu Honor Society. While at Alabama State University, she formed a close bond with Jo Ann Gibson Robinson, a professor and civil rights activist, who inspired Browder to take action against the injustices in the transportation system. Robinson encouraged Browder to participate in the lawsuit proposed by the Montgomery Improvement Association (MIA).
Before her involvement in the Montgomery bus boycott, Browder actively participated in voter registration campaigns during the 1950s. She dedicated her time to tutoring African Americans who aspired to take the voter registration exam, worked tirelessly to eliminate poll taxes, and provided transportation to the courthouse for those who sought to register. Browder’s commitment to civil rights led her to join various organizations, including the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the Montgomery Improvement Association (MIA), and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC).
It was on April 19, 1955, almost eight months before Rosa Parks’ arrest, that Aurelia Browder found herself arrested for sitting in the white section of a public city bus in Montgomery, Alabama. Browder’s arrest came just a month after Claudette Colvin faced a similar fate. Despite the conviction and fine that followed, Browder’s arrest would prove instrumental in the landmark case that would challenge racial segregation on buses.
On February 1, 1956, Fred Gray, the attorney for the Montgomery Improvement Association, filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court on behalf of five black women who had been victims of discrimination on local buses. Thurgood Marshall and Robert L. Carter of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund joined Gray in this endeavor. Browder, along with Claudette Colvin, Susie McDonald, Jeanetta Reese, and Mary Louise Smith, were listed as plaintiffs in the case, which became known as Browder v. Gayle.