Sara Pelham Speaks (November 7 1902 – August 23 1984) was an American lawyer, political activist, and the first Black woman to be nominated by a major political party for a seat in the United States Congress. She ran as the Republican candidate for a newly created congressional district in New York City in the 1944 election, opposing Adam Clayton Powell Jr.
Early Life and Family
Born in Washington, D.C., Sara Pelham was the daughter of Robert A. Pelham Jr., a lawyer and newspaper editor, and Gabrielle Lewis Pelham, a pianist, organist, music educator, and founder of the Detroit Study Club. Her family was prominent in African‑American professional circles; her uncle, Frederick Blackburn Pelham, was a noted civil engineer, and her sister, Dorothy Pelham Beckley, later served as the second national president of the sorority Delta Sigma Theta.
Education
Pelham attended Dunbar High School in Washington, D.C., and earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry from the University of Michigan in 1924. While at Michigan she participated in a protest against unequal treatment at a campus lunch counter. She subsequently pursued legal studies, receiving her law degree from New York University in 1936.
Professional Career
After completing her undergraduate studies, Pelham assisted her father in organizing the Capital News Service and worked as a journalist in Washington, D.C. Upon completing her law degree, she practiced as an attorney in New York. Her professional activities also included involvement with the National Urban League, Delta Sigma Theta, and the New York State Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs.
Political Involvement
- 1937: Pelham entered the race for a seat in the New York State Assembly, winning the Republican primary but losing narrowly in the general election.
- 1944: She became the Republican nominee for a newly created congressional district in New York City, challenging incumbent Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Although she was defeated decisively, her candidacy marked a historic milestone as the first Black woman to be a major‑party nominee for Congress. The campaign was marred by rumors questioning her racial identity, but she secured the endorsement of the New York Amsterdam News and highlighted the significance of breaking racial barriers for future Black women legislators.
Later Life and Personal Details
Pelham married physician F. Douglas Speaks in 1926; the couple had one son. In 1948 she was disbarred following accusations of professional misconduct. She remained active in civic and political circles, contributing to Republican presidential campaigns in 1932, 1936, and 1940. Sara Pelham Speaks died in New York on August 23 1984 at the age of 81.
Legacy
Sara Pelham Speaks is remembered for her pioneering role in American politics, particularly for expanding representation of Black women within major political parties and for her broader contributions to civil rights activism and professional organizations.
