Curtis Graves

Curtis M. Graves (born August 26, 1938) is an American civil rights activist, a former politician in the state of Texas and photographer.

Curtis Graves
Member of the Texas House of Representatives from District 23-6
In office
January 10, 1967 – January 9, 1973
Personal details
Born (1938-08-26) August 26, 1938
New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Kay Bryant
Joanne Graves (divorced)
Children3, including Gizelle Bryant
Alma materTexas Southern University

Early life

Graves was born in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1938 to Joseph and Mable Graves.[1][2]

Career

He was a member of the Texas House of Representatives from 1967 to 1973 as a Democrat.[3] Along with Barbara Jordan and Joe Lockridge, he was one of three African-American members elected in 1966, the first ones since 1896.[4][5] Graves was a major force in the Civil Rights Movement who he worked with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

A businessman, he is an alumnus of Texas Southern University and Princeton University. He also worked for NASA's academic affairs division and as Director for Civil Affairs. Graves currently is an artistic photographer.[6][7]

Personal life

He was married to Joanne Graves, with whom he had three children. One of his children is Gizelle Bryant, star of The Real Housewives of Potomac and former wife of megachurch pastor Jamal Bryant.

On his maternal side Graves is cousin to Marc Morial, President and CEO of the National Urban League and former New Orleans mayor.

Curtis is currently married to Kay Bryant and resides in Atlanta, Georgia.[8]

References
  1. "You Are Invited Today: The Works of Curtis Graves Entitled "Louisiana Remembered: Visual Stories Linking Past to Present"". Retrieved November 21, 2014.
  2. "Curtis Graves in the 1940 Census | Ancestry®". Ancestry.com.
  3. "Texas Legislators: Past & Present – Mobile". Retrieved November 21, 2014.
  4. "Texas Politics – Race and Ethnicity in the Texas Legislature". Retrieved November 21, 2014.
  5. "AFRICAN AMERICANS AND POLITICS". Retrieved November 21, 2014.
  6. "All About Curtis".
  7. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on August 30, 2014. Retrieved November 21, 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. Who's who Among Black Americans. December 1985. ISBN 978-0-915130-96-2. Retrieved November 21, 2014.


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