Age, Biography and Wiki

Charles Diggs (Charles Coles Diggs Jr.) was born on 2 December, 1922 in Detroit, Michigan, U.S., is an American politician. Discover Charles Diggs's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Learn How rich is he in this year and how he spends money? Also learn how he earned most of networth at the age of 75 years old?

Popular As Charles Coles Diggs Jr.
Occupation N/A
Age 75 years old
Zodiac Sign Sagittarius
Born 2 December 1922
Birthday 2 December
Birthplace Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Date of death 24 August, 1998
Died Place Washington, D.C., U.S.
Nationality United States

We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 2 December. He is a member of famous politician with the age 75 years old group.

Charles Diggs Height, Weight & Measurements

At 75 years old, Charles Diggs height not available right now. We will update Charles Diggs's Height, weight, Body Measurements, Eye Color, Hair Color, Shoe & Dress size soon as possible.

Physical Status
Height Not Available
Weight Not Available
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Who Is Charles Diggs's Wife?

His wife is Anna Katherine Johnston (m. 1960-1971)

Family
Parents Not Available
Wife Anna Katherine Johnston (m. 1960-1971)
Sibling Not Available
Children Not Available

Charles Diggs Net Worth

His net worth has been growing significantly in 2023-2024. So, how much is Charles Diggs worth at the age of 75 years old? Charles Diggs’s income source is mostly from being a successful politician. He is from United States. We have estimated Charles Diggs's net worth, money, salary, income, and assets.

Net Worth in 2024 $1 Million - $5 Million
Salary in 2024 Under Review
Net Worth in 2023 Pending
Salary in 2023 Under Review
House Not Available
Cars Not Available
Source of Income politician

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Timeline

1922

Charles Coles Diggs Jr. (December 2, 1922 – August 24, 1998 ) was an American politician from the U.S. state of Michigan who served in the state senate and U.S. House of Representatives.

He was the first African American elected to Congress from Michigan.

A member of the Democratic Party, Diggs was an early participant in the civil rights movement.

1943

He served in the United States Army from 1943 to 1945.

After his discharge, Diggs worked as a funeral director.

1951

He served as a member of the Michigan Senate from the 3rd district 1951–54, just as his father had from 1937 to 1944.

He was rooted in his family's business, the House of Diggs, which at one time was said to be Michigan's largest funeral home.

1952

Born in Detroit, Michigan, Charles was the only child of Mayme E. Jones Diggs, and Charles Diggs Sr. He attended the University of Michigan, Detroit College of Law (1952-52), and Fisk University.

1954

In 1954, Diggs defeated incumbent U.S. Representative George D. O'Brien in the Democratic Party primary elections for Michigan's 13th congressional district.

1955

In September 1955, the Michigan Representative garnered national attention when he attended the trial of the two white Mississippians accused of murdering Emmett Till.

He was elected the first chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus and was a staunch critic of the apartheid regime in South Africa.

Diggs resigned from the United States House of Representatives and served 14 months of a three-year sentence for mail fraud, although he maintained his innocence.

He went on to win the general election to the 84th Congress and was subsequently re-elected to the next twelve Congresses, serving from January 3, 1955, until his resignation June 3, 1980.

The first African American to be elected to Congress in Michigan, Diggs made significant contributions to the struggle for civil rights.

In April 1955, three months after he was first sworn in to Congress, he gave a well-received speech to a crowd of about 10,000 in Mound Bayou, Mississippi, at the annual conference of the Regional Council of Negro Leadership (RCNL), probably the largest civil rights group in the state.

His host was the RCNL's leader, Dr. T.R.M. Howard, a wealthy black surgeon and entrepreneur.

Later that same year, Diggs returned to Mississippi, where he received national attention as the only congressman to attend and monitor the trial of the accused killers of Emmett Till, a black teenager from Chicago who was murdered during a trip to the state.

The outrage generated by the case gave a tremendous momentum to the emerging civil rights movement.

Although he was a member of Congress, the sheriff did not exempt him from Jim Crow treatment.

Diggs had to sit at a small table along with black reporters.

Soon after the trial concluded, white mobs began to search for the witnesses involved in the case, including then-18-year-old Willie Reed.

Diggs personally escorted Reed to Detroit, after a nighttime escape from Reed's home in Drew, Mississippi to Memphis, Tennessee.

There the young man changed his name to Willie Louis for safety.

Following the trial, Diggs continued the fight for justice, calling upon President Eisenhower to call a special session of Congress to consider civil rights.

1969

In 1969, Diggs was appointed to the post of chairman of the Subcommittee on Africa of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, where he strongly advocated ending apartheid in South Africa.

1972

He was a committed publicist for the liberation cause in South Africa, and his 'Action Manifesto' (1972) displayed his support for the armed struggle against apartheid.

In it, Diggs criticized the United States government for decrying the use of such violence when it failed to condemn measures used by the South African government to subjugate the majority of its own people.

Diggs also argued that American corporations were propping up the apartheid government through their investments, and he was banned from South Africa by its government for these positions.

Diggs was a founding member and the first chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, a group of African-American representatives and senators working to address the needs and rights of black constituents.

While chairman, Diggs successfully led a caucus boycott of President Nixon's State of the Union Address, following Nixon's refusal to meet to discuss issues relevant to African Americans.

This and similar work contributed to Diggs being named on the Master list of Nixon political opponents.

1978

In March 1978, Diggs was charged with taking kickbacks from staff whose salaries he raised.

He was convicted on October 7, 1978, on 11 counts of mail fraud and filing false payroll forms.

Diggs insisted he had done nothing wrong, and was re-elected while awaiting sentencing.

1979

He was censured by the House on July 31, 1979, and resigned from Congress June 3, 1980.

He was sentenced to three years in prison and served 14 months.

Diggs died of a stroke at Greater Southeast Community Hospital in Washington, D.C. He is interred at Detroit Memorial Park in Warren, Michigan.