Augustus Freeman Hawkins

Augustus Freeman Hawkins was a Democratic Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 21st district. He was the first African American to serve as the Californian representative in the Congress.  Hawkins was a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus and wrote over 300 state and federal laws in his time.  He was known to care for the well being of education and the poor.  Hawkins was known as the "silent warrior" because he was would rather work behind the scenes to reach his goals.

Hawkins was born in Shreveport, Louisiana and moved to California as a child.  He received a degree in economics from UCLA in 1931.  Originally planning on becoming an engineer, the Great Depression cut into his graduate school funding.  He became interested in politics and unseated the long sitting Republican.

"The leadership belongs not to the loudest, not to those who beat the drums or blow the trumpets, but to those who day in and day out, in all seasons, work for the practical realization of a better world— those who have the stamina to persist and remain dedicated. To those belong the leadership." - Augustus Freeman Hawkins