1908–2007
Marnesba Tackett, is an unsung hero in the Civil Rights Movement and NAAP member for over 90 years. Her challenges were not only being light-skinned, who refused to pass as “white,” but as a woman trying to burst through barriers in a male-dominated world. She fought against both racial and gender inequality in all she did. Tackett fought for equality in the Insurance industry, for equal housing practices, and was instrumental in desegregating and integrating schools for all children.
Tackett organized Martin Luther King, Jr.’s visit to Wrigley Field in 1963 and participated in the Selma march in 1965. Referred to as a relentless “feisty fighter,” her lifelong activism combined with her strong self-esteem in being a proud Black woman helped pave the way towards equal rights.