Louis Wright | |
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![]() Sculpture of Wright by William E. Artis | |
Chair of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People | |
In office 1934–1952 | |
Preceded by | Mary White Ovington |
Succeeded by | Channing Heggie Tobias |
Personal details | |
Born | Oswald Garrison Villard July 23, 1891 LaGrange, Georgia, U.S. |
Died | October 8, 1952 New York City, New York, U.S. | (aged 61)
Education | Atlanta University (BS) Harvard University (MD) |
Civilian awards | Spingarn Medal |
Military awards | Purple Heart |
Louis Tompkins Wright, MD, FACS[1] (July 23, 1891 – October 8, 1952)[2] was an American surgeon and civil rights activist. In his position at Harlem Hospital he was the first African-American on the surgical staff of a non-segregated hospital in New York City. He was influential for his medical research as well as his efforts pushing for racial equality in medicine and involvement with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), which he served as chairman for nearly two decades.[3][4]