Curtis Cavielle Taylor Explained

Curtis Cavielle Taylor (1896–1967) was an African American pioneering criminal attorney and civil rights lawyer.^{[1] [2] [3]} He was nicknamed, "The Black Clarence Darrow".^[4] Taylor lived in Los Angeles, California.^{[5] [6]}

Biography

Curtis Cavielle Taylor was born in 1896 in Edna, Jackson County, Texas. His cousin was Hobart Taylor.^[7] He graduated from Prairie View A&M University (1917); and Howard University Law School (1926).^[8]

Taylor was admitted to the State Bar of California in March 1927 and opened up a private legal practice in Los Angeles. He wrote a news column, "Pertinent Personalities" for The Pacific Defender newspaper around 1927.^[9] He married Lotus Blossom Roberts on April 11, 1940 in Yuma, Arizona.^[10]

His involvement in the Rush Griffin murder case of 1934, led to a statute regarding stays for capital cases in California.^[11] He was one of the lawyers in 1938 for George Farley, who killed two Deputy Marshals when they came to his house to evict him.^[12] In 1958, Taylor was shot in his office by Warren Willie Stroud. Taylor was representing Stroud's wife who was filing a court case for spousal abuse.^{[13] [14]} He survived the shooting.

In 1959, Taylor was honored with the alumni award during the convocation address at Prairie View A&M University.^[15] Judge Earl C. Broady, who began his legal career working in Taylor's office, gave a million dollar gift to Howard University in 1987 in his honor.^[16] The UCLA Library has numerous photos of him with other prominent African Americans in their archival collection.^[17]

Death and legacy

Taylor died in September 1967 at Sawtelle Veterans Administration Hospital in Los Angeles, California.

Notes and References

1. Book: Smith Jr., J. Clay . Emancipation: The Making of the Black Lawyer, 1844-1944 . July 26, 1999 . University of Pennsylvania Press . 0812216857 . 525 . Google Books.
2. Web site: Party at Curtis C. Taylor's house, Los Angeles, 1940s - UCLA Library Digital Collections. digital.library.ucla.edu.
3. Web site: This is Progress: The Blue Book Manual of Nigritian History, American Descendants of African Origin, Textbook, Reference, Study Guide, Encyclopedia. Robert H.. DeCoy. July 26, 1969. Nigritian, Incorporated. Google Books.
4. News: 1938-05-28 . Farley Doesn't Remember Killing Deputies, Says Everything "Went Black" When Evictors Shoved . 22 . . 2022-11-09.
5. September 26, 1939 . Legal Directory . The Crisis . The Crisis Publishing Company, Inc. . 46 . 9. 284 . 0011-1422 . Google Books.
6. News: 1928-02-11 . Liaison Movement Launched in West . 13 . . 2022-11-09.
7. News: 1967-09-28 . Obituary for Curtis CL Taylor . 35 . . 2022-11-09.
8. News: 1926-06-13 . 1926 Graduation from Howard with an Award . 22 . . 2022-11-09.
9. News: 1927-04-08 . Two Race Men Pass State Bar . 4 . . 2022-11-09.
10. News: Angeleno . Molly . 1940-08-24 . The Curtis Taylors' Marriage Reception Takes Angel City Spot . 10 . . 2022-11-09.
11. News: 1935-01-18 . Rush Griffin Will Hang For Student Death, Accomplice Escapes Gallows; Pair Will Appeal . 1 . . 2022-11-09.
12. News: 1938-04-28 . Mass Meet Monday As Trial Date Nears . 1 . . 2022-11-09.
13. Web site: December 18, 1958 . Los Angeles Lawyer Shot By Mystery Man . Jet . Johnson Publishing Company . 6 . Google Books.
14. News: 1958-12-25 . Atty. Taylor Tells Court of Shooting . 1 . . 2022-11-09.
15. Book: 83rd Convocation Exercises, 18th Annual Convocation . May 24, 1959 . Prairie View Agricultural and Mechanical College . Prairie View, TX . 8.
16. Web site: Smith Jr. . J. Clay . April 24, 1987 . Alumnus Inspired Million Dollar Gift . Howard University.
17. Web site: Names: Taylor, Curtis C. (Cavielle), 1896-1967 - UCLA Library Digital Collections Search Results. digital.library.ucla.edu.