Wilmington in New Castle County, Delaware — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Louis Lorenzo Redding, Esq.
First African-American Attorney in Delaware
— (b. October 25, 1901, d. September 28, 1998) —
Born in Alexandria, Virginia, relocated to 203 E. 10th Street, Wilmington, Delaware. Redding graduated from Howard High School in 1919, and with honors from Brown University in 1923. After college, Redding taught in Florida, and at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. In 1925, Redding entered Harvard Law School, becoming the only African-American in Harvard Law's 1928 graduating class. He was admitted to the Delaware bar in 1929, becoming the first African-American lawyer in Delaware. In 57 years practicing law, Redding handled cases that successfully challenged segregation and discrimination in housing, public accommodations, employment, and the criminal justice system.
His major cases included the 1950 Parker v. the University of Delaware, which made the University of Delaware the first state-funded undergraduate institution required to desegregate by court order. Redding successfully argued Burton v. Wilmington Parking Authority before the U.S. Supreme Court in 1961 which held that segregation in public accommodations was not permissible.
His landmark case was Gebhart v. Belton, which was combined with cases from three other states and the District of Columbia to become part of the landmark 1954 U.S. Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education which changed Federal public
this page online
Erected by City of Wilmington, Delaware.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights • Education • Industry & Commerce • Roads & Vehicles. In addition, it is included in the Historically Black Colleges and Universities series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1919.
Location. 39° 44.701′ N, 75° 32.626′ W. Marker is in Wilmington, Delaware, in New Castle County. Marker is on East 11th Street just east of Wilson Street, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 310 E 11th St, Wilmington DE 19801, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Knotty Pine Restaurant (a few steps from this marker); Walnut Street YMCA (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Saint Joseph Church (about 500 feet away); The Monday Club (about 800 feet away); Suffrage Rally (approx. 0.2 miles away); Hattie M. Phelan Community Dream Garden (approx. 0.2 miles away); Howard High School (approx. 0.2 miles away); Hattie M. Phelan (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Wilmington.
Additional commentary.
1. Coloring on the
While the marker is similar in color scheme and formatting as the Delaware Public Archives' markers, it was erected by the City of Wilmington and features the City's seal at the top center.
The City of Wilmington's traditional colors are gold and blue, as are the State of Delaware's. The colors are inspired by the Swedish flag's colors and tie to the region's history as part of New Sweden.
— Submitted March 11, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
Credits. This page was last revised on March 11, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 11, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 98 times since then and 42 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 11, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
