Charles Diggs
Charles Coles Diggs Jr. (December 2, 1922 – August 24, 1998) was an American politician from the U.S. state of Michigan who served in the state senate and U.S. House of Representatives. He was the first African American elected to Congress from Michigan.
Charles Diggs | |
|---|---|
| Chair of the House District of Columbia Committee | |
| In office January 3, 1973 – January 3, 1979 | |
| Preceded by | John L. McMillan |
| Succeeded by | Ron Dellums |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Michigan's 13th district | |
| In office January 3, 1955 – June 3, 1980 | |
| Preceded by | George D. O'Brien |
| Succeeded by | George Crockett Jr. |
| Member of the Michigan Senate from the 3rd district | |
| In office 1951–1954 | |
| Preceded by | Henry Kozak |
| Succeeded by | Cora Brown |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Charles Coles Diggs Jr. December 2, 1922 Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Died | August 24, 1998 (aged 75) Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | |
| Education | University of Michigan Fisk University Wayne State University (BS) Michigan State University |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1943–1945 |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
A member of the Democratic Party, Diggs was an early participant in the civil rights movement. In September 1955, the Michigan Representative garnered national attention when he attended the trial of the two white Mississippians accused of murdering Emmett Till. He was elected the first chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus and was a staunch critic of the apartheid regime in South Africa.
Diggs resigned from the United States House of Representatives and served 14 months of a three-year sentence for mail fraud, although he maintained his innocence.