Since
their arrival at Jamestown in 1619, African-Americans have made significant
contributions to Virginia's growth and development. Mr. Oliver Hill, who has
spent his life working as an advocate for social and economic justice, is part
of that tradition.
Mr. Hill was born in Richmond
and earned his undergraduate and law degrees from Howard University. He has
practiced law since 1934 and has focused on litigating civil right cases on
behalf of African-Americans.
Mr. Hill participated in
a number of landmark cases involving attempts to equalize teacher salaries and
enforce black Americans' rights to serve on juries. He has joined legal struggles
to provide free bus transportation for all public school children, to eliminate
segregation in public transit and other facilities and in general to guarantee
that the U.S. Constitution protects everyone.
Mr. Hill received national
attention in 1948 when he was elected to the Richmond City Council and became
its first black American member since Reconstruction.
This civil rights advocate
is a member of many local, state and national organizations and has received
many citations and awards. In I 983, an unusual form of recognition and approval
happened when students at the University of Virginia founded the Oliver W. Hill
Black Pre-Law Association.
In 1969, Mr. Hill organized
on observance to commemorate the 19 Africans who landed at Jamestown 350 years
earlier. It was o significant and symbolic event in which Virginia's past and
present come together to reaffirm its determination to continue the struggle
until equal opportunity becomes a reality of life.
