Callie House

Callie House was a courageous advocate for reparations for slavery in America. Despite facing government opposition, she tirelessly organized and mobilized support for justice. Born into slavery in 1861, House co-founded the National Ex-Slave Mutual Relief, Bounty and Pension Association in 1894, advocating for reparations and providing mutual aid to Black communities. Though men led the association, House's creative direction and energy sustained the movement. When Congress rejected pension legislation, House recruited an attorney to sue the government in 1915. She faced persecution, including an unjust mail fraud indictment in 1916. After a year in prison, she returned to poverty and continued her advocacy until her death in 1928. In 2018, Vanderbilt University honored her by renaming its research center after her.

Sources:
National Archives
TN Encyclopedia
Wikipedia