111:, but his request was denied. One of the stipulations in the 1960 settlement was that James' home had to be sold to him at the 1958 price. James was not the first African-American to move into Willingboro however. Charles and Vera Williams were the first African-American family to move in 1960 due to the outcome of James' suit against Levitt. James eventually moved into Millbrook Park in 1960 and raised four children there. He would eventually have four sons and three daughters. James later recalled that he moved into his new home on a weekday and that it went smoothly with white neighbors helping him set up curtains.
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asking her to appoint a special commission to study why a majority of inmates in state prisons were minorities and to place a moratorium on the death penalty in New Jersey. The
Governor denied both of those requests. Rev. James also brought the problem of minority incarceration to the attention of
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made against several local real estate agents. These agents were accused of intimidating white homeowners with claims that their neighborhood was becoming increasingly
African-American and home values could decline. While the Council could not prove these claims, it did outline recommendations to
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groups and other organizations. James was represented by civil rights attorney, Emerson L. Darnell, who was himself a Quaker. The case received large media attention, because the new
Levittown was a model for modern suburbia. The case went as far as the New Jersey Supreme Court which upheld lower
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prepared an extensive integration policy. Levitt set up an integration committee headed by Howard Lett, an
African American. Lett created a five-point program. In order to make a smoother transition, it included the announcement of Levitt's decision to desegregate housing to be made by community
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when a white family resold their home to
African-Americans. However, James was informed by a friend employed at the New Jersey Division of Civil Rights that it was illegal in New Jersey to discriminate in federally subsidized housing. Levittown was receiving mortgage insurance from the
81:, James stated that on June 29, 1958 an agent of that company told him that the new Levittown development would be an all-white community. Segregation in housing was taken for granted in the late 1950s throughout America. Racial disturbance broke out in
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Another of Lett's ideas was to create a Human
Relations Council to oversee possible disputes in the community. James would later serve as a member of that committee. One incident the Council investigated were charges of
167:, and found that no African-Americans were employed at the plaza. After negotiations with store owners, several African-Americans were soon employed there. James also filed a complaint against the U.S. Pipe Company in
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James sued Levitt and Sons. His suit was tied with another man named
Franklin Todd, who was suing Green Fields Farms for housing discrimination against African-Americans as well. James also received help from the
26:(September 13, 1920 – August 2, 2016) served as an important early civil rights activist in New Jersey starting in late 1950s and helped to end housing discrimination in that state. James later became head of the
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Anderson, Priscilla B. The
History and Contribution of Black Americans to the Development of Willingboro. Burlington, New Jersey. Trenton, NJ: New Jersey Historical Commission - Afro-American Division, 1985.
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with the NAACP in 1966 to desegregate a local recreation area known as
Holiday Lake. After retiring from the Army, James became the Director of Equal Employment Operations with
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139:. He headed the NAACP Branch from 1963 to 1974 and remained active in the local Civil Rights Movement. James would clash with Levitt again in 1963 when he and the
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for maintaining separate shower facilities for
African-Americans and failing to hire and promote Blacks. In the 1960s, James also helped to found the
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Willie R. James vs. Levitt and Sons Inc and William J. Levitt. (1958). State of New Jersey Department of Education Division Against Discrimination.
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had a policy to not sell homes to African-Americans. James however attempted to apply for a Levittown home. In his lawsuit against
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A Tribute to Reverend Willie R. James & Mrs. Bernice T. James. Willingboro, NJ: Willingboro Branch of the NAACP, 2000. Print.
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Gans, Herbert J. (1967). The Levittowners: ways of life and politics in a new suburban community. New York: Pantheon Books.
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the National NAACP Convention. Trying to reduce the minority population in prison became known as the National Project.
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and was drafted in the army in 1941. He served as an officer in the Criminal Investigation Unit. He was transferred to
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renamed the school in Pennypacker Park to W.R. James, Sr. Elementary School in his honor. He continues to reside in
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in 1996 and once again became a community activist returning in 1999 to his former position as head of the County's
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leaders. Lett also recommended an attempt to discourage anti-integration activities known as "Operation Hothead".
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and remained active in social issues including fighting poverty, job discrimination and ending the death penalty.
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Bernstein, Josh. ""Activist returns to lead local NAACP"." Burlington County Times 12 Apr 1999: A3. Print.
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Suplee, C. (1995). Stories of Willingboro Township, New Jersey. Willingboro: Calkins Newspapers, Inc.
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started selling homes for their new Levittown project in South Jersey (in what would later become
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staged a demonstration against the developer for refusing to sell homes to African-Americans in
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329:"Has Blockbusting Come to Willingboro? Burlington County Times. October 28, 1973.
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court rulings in favor of James. Levitt attempted to have the case heard by the
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After his momentous victory against Levitt, James became head of the
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in 1946. While living in New Jersey, he met his future wife Bernice.
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Community Action Program to help needy residents of the County.
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Branch. He presented a resolution to then-New Jersey Governor
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help foster better relations between the diverse populations.
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happened by coincidence starting in the late 1950s. In 1958,
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National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
232:"Rev. Willie R. James Sr., 95, civil rights pioneer"
190:, he became an ordained minister. He moved back to
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16:For the rapper, producer and songwriter, see
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234:. The Philadelphia Tribune
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169:Burlington, New Jersey
63:Civil Rights Movement
46:in 1920. He attended
208:Willingboro Township
71:Willingboro Township
157:Paramus, New Jersey
48:Southern University
109:U.S. Supreme Court
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375:2016 deaths
370:1920 births
161:Willingboro
52:Baton Rouge
364:Categories
218:References
212:New Jersey
192:New Jersey
206:In 2001,
165:Route 130
38:Biography
153:IT&T
102:, local
56:Fort Dix
274:Print.
238:13 May
149:sit-in
116:Levitt
104:Quaker
196:NAACP
137:NAACP
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180:ITT
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