Constance baker motley biography summary

Constance Baker Motley

Life Story: 1921-2005

The daughter of Caribbean immigrants who became a monumental civil rights advocate, pioneer in politics, and the first Black woman to argue before the Supreme Court and to serve as a federal district judge.

Constance Baker Motley Biography - Infoplease

Overview

Background

Constance Juanita Baker was born on September 14, 1921 in New Haven, Connecticut. Her parents, Willoughby Baker and Rachel Huggins Baker, immigrated to the United States from the Caribbean island of Nevis. They were skilled workers who enjoyed a comfortable lifestyle.

When they moved to the U.S., their financial and social statuses changed. The majority of Americans did not enjoy the prosperity of the “Roaring Twenties.” When the Great Depression hit in 1929, the situation grew worse, leaving 25 percent of the population unemployed.

Celebrating the Life of Constance Baker Motley ’46

On top of that, the Bakers faced employment discrimination because of their race. With few other options, Willoughby became a chef at Yale University. Ra Civil Rights Queen: Constance Baker Motley and the Struggle ... MAWIL