Born: 1893 (Victoria, Texas)
Died: 1989
Biography:
Christia V. Daniels Adair (October 22, 1893 December 31, 1989) was an African-American suffragist and civil rights worker based in Texas. She played a significant role in advocating for women’s suffrage and fighting against racial discrimination in the early 20th century. Her dedication to both causes made her a prominent figure in Texas history.
Christia V. Daniels was born on October 22, 1893, in Victoria, Texas. She grew up in Edna, Texas, as the daughter of Ada Crosby Daniels, a laundress, and Hardy Daniels, who owned a hauling business. Christia had an older half-sister whom her mother had legally adopted, as well as two younger brothers. Her early life was heavily influenced by her Christian religion, which she professed at the age of 11, and her involvement with the Methodist Church.
After completing her education at Samuel Huston College, which was co-founded by her godfather, Christia trained to become a teacher at the Prairie View State Normal and Industrial College. She graduated in 1915 and began teaching at public schools in Edna for three years. However, in 1918, she left teaching after marrying Elbert H. Adair, a brakeman for the Missouri-Pacific Railroad, and moved to Kingsville, Texas.
In Kingsville, Christia joined a women’s group and actively fought against gambling establishments while organizing petition drives for women’s suffrage. Despite the success of the women’s suffrage movement, she faced the harsh reality of racial discrimination when she was turned away from a polling place in Texas. State laws at the time prevented black Americans from voting in primaries, even though Christia was allowed to register to vote. This incident prompted her to start working with the civil rights movement.
As racial discrimination became more prevalent, Christia Adair’s involvement in her community intensified. In 1925, she moved to Houston and joined the city’s chapter of the NAACP in 1943. She served as the chapter’s executive secretary from 1949 or 1950 to 1959, during the landmark Smith v. Allwright case. This case challenged the exclusion of black Americans from participating in the Democratic Party primaries in Texas. Adair’s dedication to her work earned the Houston chapter of the NAACP several bomb threats. Despite the dangers, she refused to share the membership rolls with the police, suspecting that they were trying to dismantle the chapter.
Adair was deeply committed to desegregation efforts in Houston. She played an instrumental role in advocating for the desegregation of various public facilities, including the Houston Public Library, airport, hospital, and public transit facilities. She also fought for the integration of department store dressing rooms. Additionally, she actively campaigned to make black Texans eligible to serve on juries and to be hired for county jobs.
Christia Adair co-founded the Harris County Democrats, an integrated organization that aimed to bring diverse communities together. In 1966, she made history by becoming the first African-American woman elected to the state’s Democratic Party.
Christia V. Daniels Adair’s lifelong dedication to women’s suffrage, civil rights, and racial equality empowered countless individuals and paved the way for future generations. Her contributions to Texas society and her pivotal role in promoting social justice make her an enduring figure in women’s history.