November 11, 1987 Channing E. Phillips, minister, social activist and the first African American placed in nomination for President of the United States by a major party, died.
Phillips was born March 23, 1928 in Brooklyn, New York. He was a founding member of the Coalition of Conscience, a conglomeration of local organizations working to alleviate social problems in Washington, D. C.
Phillips led the D. C. delegation to the 1968 Democratic National Convention and after the death of Robert Kennedy, on August 28, 1968 Phillips was nominated as a favorite son candidate and received 68 votes. Phillips said that his candidacy was meant to show that “the Negro vote must not be taken for granted.”
Phillips was also the President of the Housing Development Corporation, a government backed housing venture in the capital.
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