IN JAMES MILTON TURNER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, IN MEACHUM PARK, KIRKWOOD SCHOOL DISTRICT, ST.LOUIS COUNTY, MISSOURI, 1956-1963, A DISTINGUISHED BLACK MAN'S PICTURE HUNG HIGH ABOVE THE FRONT ENTRANCE. BUT THAT PHOTOGRAPH WAS NEVER EXPLAINED TO US IN ANY OF MY 7 YEARS' THERE; THAT PICTURE HAS ALWAYS INTRIGUED ME! DECADES LATER, I LEARNED THAT IT WAS A PICTURE OF JAMES MILTON TURNER, THE FOUNDER OF PUBLIC EDUCATION FOR BLACKS IN MISSOURI, FIRST U.S. CONSUL TO HAITI, AND THE FIRST BLACK LAWYER IN MISSOURI. I'D SUSPECTED THIS, SINCE THEY CLAIM NOT TO KNOW WHO WAS THE FIRST BLACK LAWYER IN THIS STATE!
IN JAMES MILTON TURNER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, IN MEACHUM PARK, KIRKWOOD SCHOOL DISTRICT, ST.LOUIS COUNTY, MISSOURI, 1956-1963, A DISTINGUISHED BLACK MAN'S PICTURE HUNG HIGH ABOVE THE FRONT ENTRANCE. BUT THAT PHOTOGRAPH WAS NEVER EXPLAINED TO US IN ANY OF MY 7 YEARS' THERE; THAT PICTURE HAS ALWAYS INTRIGUED ME! DECADES LATER, I LEARNED THAT IT WAS A PICTURE OF JAMES MILTON TURNER, THE FOUNDER OF PUBLIC EDUCATION FOR BLACKS IN MISSOURI, FIRST U.S. CONSUL TO HAITI, AND THE FIRST BLACK LAWYER IN MISSOURI. I'D SUSPECTED THIS, SINCE THEY CLAIM NOT TO KNOW WHO WAS THE FIRST BLACK LAWYER IN THIS STATE!
