Charles L. Black, Jr
Charles L. Black, Jr. was a prominent constitutional law scholar and educator in the twentieth century, known for his influential contributions to legal thought and civil rights. Born in Texas in 1915 to a family with a legal background, Black pursued higher education at the University of Texas and later at Yale University, where he earned his law degree. Following a brief stint in the Army Air Corps, he transitioned to academia, teaching constitutional law at prestigious institutions like Yale and Columbia for three decades. Among his notable students was Hillary Rodham Clinton, highlighting his impact on future leaders.
Black was recognized for his authoritative writings on law, including his significant work "Impeachment: A Handbook," published during the Watergate scandal. He played a crucial role in the landmark civil rights case Brown vs. Board of Education, helping to dismantle school segregation. Beyond his legal career, Black enjoyed painting, sculpting, and music, and he began writing poetry later in life. He passed away on May 5, 2001, leaving behind a legacy of moral courage and advocacy for equality, as reflected in the admiration expressed by his students and colleagues.
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Subject Terms
Charles L. Black, Jr.
Nonfiction Writer and Poet
- Born: September 22, 1915
- Birthplace: Austin, Texas
- Died: May 5, 2001
- Place of death: New York, New York
Biography
Charles L. Black, Jr., a twentieth century leader in constitutional law, was born in Texas to Charles L. Black Sr., a lawyer, and his wife Alzada Bowman Black. He graduated from Austin High School in 1931 and enrolled at the University of Texas, focusing his studies on the Greek classics. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas in 1935. After taking some time to travel in europe, black enrolled at yale university and earned a master’s degree in old and middle English literature. He earned his law degree from Yale University in 1943.
After he received his law degree, Black served for a short time in the Army Air Corps as a teacher. After his military service, he worked at a private New York law firm but left after just one year to go back to teaching. For the next three decades, Black taught constitutional law at Yale and Columbia Universities. Many of his students went on to become future leaders in business, academia, and government. One of his most famous pupils was Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Black was well respected among his students and colleagues. He was the recipient of several awards and academia honors. He was named Sterling Professor Emeritus of Law, the highest distinction of honor at Yale University.
During his years as an educator, Black authored several books on law and the Constitution. One of his most noted works was Impeachment: A Handbook, which was published in 1974 during the Watergate scandal and was reissued again in 1999 during the impeachment hearings against President William Clinton. Black was also an expert in the field of maritime law and published The Law of Admiralty in 1957.
Charles L. Black, Jr., while being known and admired as an outstanding professor and author, was regarded as a champion of equality and civil rights. He cooperated with Marshall Thurgood in the landmark case Brown vs. Board of Education (1954). He helped win this case, enabling a young African American girl, Linda Brown, to attend a white-only school in Topeka, Kansas.
Black lived his later years enjoying his hobbies: painting, sculpting, and playing the trumpet and harmonica. At age forty, he began writing poetry and published several noted poems. He was married to Barbara Aronstein Black, a professor and dean at Columbia Law School. They had three children. Black died on May 5, 2001.
Perhaps the best summary of the life of Charles L. Black, Jr., is stated in this quote of his former student, Akhil Amar: “He was my hero. So many of the great moral issues of the twentieth century seem clear in retrospect, but were quite controversial at the time. He had the moral courage to go against his race, his class, and his social circle.”