Cora Brown

Cora Mae Brown (April 19, 1914 – December 17, 1972) was the first African-American woman elected (rather than appointed) to a state senate in the United States. She won her seat in the Michigan Senate in 1952. Brown was a Democrat who represented Detroit.

Early life Cora Mae Brown was Richard and Alice Brown's only child. There, her father established a tailor shop that was supported by Detroit automotive workers. and she had her first experiences with racial discrimination at the school. A German classmate called her "schwarze" or "black woman," using negative connotations. Though she did not focus on criminal law during her time in school, Brown remained interested in this pursuit.

Legal career Upon graduation from Fisk University in 1935, Brown took advantage of the need for social workers created by the 1929 economic crash. Following her work with the U.S. Post Office, she moved to Los Angeles. She opened a small practice there and practiced law until her return to Detroit in 1970. Throughout her time in the Senate, she worked on committees for welfare, public utilities, and health. Another, introduced in 1956, ordered the removal of licenses of business that discriminated on the basis of race. Her candidacy in the Democratic Primary for US representative from Michigan's 1st District was announced following her 1956 selection as the Outstanding Woman Legislator of the year.