Robert "Bob" J. Booker (April 14, 1935 – February 22, 2024) was an American historian, politician, and writer. He served in the Tennessee House of Representatives.
Robert J. Booker | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Michigan House of Representatives from the Knox County 2nd district | |
| In office 1967–1972 | |
| Preceded by | Arthur Atkin[1] |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 14, 1935 Knoxville, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Died | February 22, 2024 (aged 88) Knoxville, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Residence(s) | Knoxville, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Knoxville College (BEd, 1962)[2] |
| Occupation | Historian, politician, writer |
Life and career
editRobert J. Booker was born in Knoxville, Tennessee, on April 14, 1935. He grew up in the East Knoxville neighborhood known as "The Bottom," and went to Austin-East High School.[3] He served three years in the United States Army[2] and was impressed by the freedoms and absence of segregation he experienced while stationed in France and England.[4]
Following his return to the United States in 1957, he graduated from Knoxville College on a G.I. Bill scholarship.[2] During his time in college he participated in the Civil Rights movement. He organize sit-ins in lunch counters restaurants in downtown Knoxville in 1960.[4] After a month of peaceful protests, the same lunch counters were desegregated.[4]
He later taught French at Howard High School in Chattanooga.[5] Booker was the first African American elected to the Tennessee State Legislature from Knox County's 2nd District, and he served three terms.[5][6]
Bibliography
edit- Two Hundred Years of Black Culture in Knoxville, Tennessee 1791–1991 (1993)
- And There Was Light!; The 120 Year History of Knoxville College (1994)
- The Heat of a Red Summer; An Encyclopedia: The Experiences of Black People in Knoxville, Tennessee 1844-1974 (2001)
- From the Bottom Up!
- An Encyclopedia: Experiences of Black People in Knoxville, Tennessee, 1844–1974 (2017)[8]
References
edit- ^ "Rep. Arthur Atkin". Nashville, Tennessee: Tennessee General Assembly. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
- ^ a b c "Bob Booker". Knoxville History Project. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
- ^ a b "Civil rights activist, historian Bob Booker dies at 88 years old". WATE 6 On Your Side. 2024-02-22. Retrieved 2024-06-01.
- ^ a b c García-Franceschini, Fernando (February 7, 2020). "In His Own Words: Robert 'Bob' Booker's journey of activism, service in Knoxville". WBIR-TV.
- ^ a b "Robert Booker Named 2020 CCI Diversity Award Winner". College of Communication & Information, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville. 2020-01-22. Retrieved 2024-06-01.
- ^ "Rep. Robert J. Booker". Nashville, Tennessee: Tennessee General Assembly. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
- ^ Dennis, Angela (22 February 2024). "Robert Booker, one of Knoxville's leading Black voices and a civil rights luminary, dies at 88". Knox News. USA Today. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
- ^ "Bob Booker: New book traces black experience in Knoxville". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved 2024-06-01.