In Memoriam: Christopher C. Mercer, 1924-2012

Christopher C. Mercer, one of the six Black students who racially integrated the School of Law at the University of Arkansas in 1948, has died in Little Rock. He was 88 years old.

A native of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, he supported himself while in law school by teaching at a local high school. After graduating from law school and passing the bar exam, he became active in the civil rights movement, acting as an adviser to the Little Rock Nine, the students who racially integrated Central High School in 1957. He was the Arkansas field secretary for the NAACP.

Mercer was the first African American to serve as a deputy state prosecutor in the South. He practiced law for more than 58 years.

Related Articles

1 COMMENT

  1. I was sad to hear this and yet it reminded me of the importance of remembering those who laid the foundations for the rights people take for granted today , the sacrifices they made and our duty to challenge every attempt to erode those rights under the guise of austerity measures

Leave a Reply

Get the JBHE Weekly Bulletin

Receive our weekly email newsletter delivered to your inbox

Latest News

California State University Sacramento Launches Black Honors College

Officially launching for the fall 2024 semester, the Black Honors College will support students from all backgrounds who study Black history, life, and culture by providing them with a specialized curriculum and mentoring opportunities.

Higher Education Gifts or Grants of Interest to African Americans

Here is this week’s news of grants or gifts to historically Black colleges and universities or for programs of particular interest to African Americans in higher education.

In Memoriam: Norman B. Anderson, 1955-2024

Dr. Anderson was the assistant vice president for research and academic affairs at Florida State University at the time of his death. He had an extensive career in clinical psychology, which led him to become the first African American chief executive officer of the American Psychological Association.

Georgia State University Launches Program to Support Black Women in Tech

While Black women account for roughly 29 percent of the Georgia State University undergradaute student body, they represent only 10 percent of the university's computer science majors and 18 percent of the computer information systems majors.

Featured Jobs