Frederick D. Reese

Frederick D. Reese
United States House of Representatives - Office of Terri Sewell · Public domain · source
Name	Frederick D. Reese
Birth date	28 November 1929
Birth place	Selma, Alabama, U.S.
Death date	5 April 2018
Death place	Selma, Alabama, U.S.
Occupation	civil rights leader, educator, minister
Known for	Selma to Montgomery marches, Selma voting rights activism, member of the "Courageous Eight"
Alma mater	Alabama State University
Spouse	Ruthie L. Reese

Frederick D. Reese. Frederick Douglas Reese (November 28, 1929 – April 5, 2018) was an American civil rights activist, educator, and Baptist minister who played a pivotal role in the voting rights campaigns in Selma, Alabama. As a leader in the Selma to Montgomery marches and president of the Dallas County Voters League, he was a key local figure in the events that led to the passage of the landmark Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Early life and education

Frederick Douglas Reese was born and raised in Selma, Alabama, during the era of Jim Crow segregation. He attended Alabama State University, a historically black university in Montgomery, Alabama, where he earned a degree in science. After graduation, he returned to Selma and began a career as a science teacher and later as a principal in the city's segregated public school system. His profession as an educator deeply informed his activism, as he witnessed firsthand the systemic inequalities faced by African Americans in Dallas County, particularly regarding voter disenfranchisement.

Role in the Selma voting rights movement

In the early 1960s, Reese became increasingly involved in the struggle for voting rights. He was elected president of the Dallas County Voters League (DCVL), a longstanding but relatively cautious local organization dedicated to Black voter registration. Under his leadership, the DCVL became more assertive. In 1963, he invited the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and its president, Martin Luther King Jr., to Selma to amplify the local campaign. This strategic invitation was crucial in nationalizing the Selma movement. Reese helped organize and lead numerous voter registration drives and protests at the Dallas County Courthouse, facing repeated arrests and intimidation from Sheriff Jim Clark and his deputies.

Leadership in the "Courageous Eight"

Reese was a founding member of the "Courageous Eight", a group of key local leaders in Selma who strategized and directed the city's civil rights campaign. This group, which also included figures like Amelia Boynton Robinson and John Lewis of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), served as the executive committee of the DCVL. They met regularly, often in secret, to plan demonstrations, coordinate with national organizations like the SCLC and SNCC, and maintain community solidarity in the face of violent opposition. The Courageous Eight provided the essential local leadership and infrastructure that sustained the movement.

Participation in the Selma to Montgomery marches

Reese was a central participant in the historic Selma to Montgomery marches. On March 7, 1965—a day known as "Bloody Sunday"—he was among the roughly 600 marchers who attempted to cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge on a planned march to the state capital. The marchers, including Reese, were violently attacked by Alabama State Troopers and county possemen. The televised brutality galvanized national support. Reese also participated in the subsequent successful march led by Martin Luther King Jr., which began on March 21 and culminated at the Alabama State Capitol in Montgomery on March 25, 1965. These marches were instrumental in pressuring the federal government to pass the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Later career and ministry

Following the passage of the Voting Rights Act, Reese continued his dual careers in education and ministry. He served as the pastor of the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Selma for over four decades. In the 1970s, he transitioned from teaching into full-time ministry. He remained active in civic life, serving on the Selma City Council for several terms and advocating for educational and economic development in the city. He was also a member of the Alabama State Board of Education.

Legacy and recognition

Frederick D. Reese is remembered as a courageous local leader whose dedication was vital to the success of the Selma movement. His home and church often served as meeting places and sanctuaries for activists. In 2015, on the 50th anniversary of the Selma marches, he was recognized by President Barack Obama during the commemorative events. The "Courageous Eight" were honored with a historical marker in Selma. Reese's life and work are documented in archives at institutions like the Library of Congress and featured in works such as the film Selma. His legacy endures as an example of the critical role played by local leaders in the broader American Civil Rights Movement.