Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs

The Alfred McKenzie Award was established in 1994 to recognize Committee clients whose dedication and courage have produced civil rights victories of particular significance. It takes its name from a man whose efforts as a Committee plaintiff helped to change an institution.

During World War II, Alfred McKenzie left his entry-level position in the Government Printing Office (GPO) to join the Army Air Corps where he served with distinction as one of the famed Tuskegee Airmen. When he returned to the GPO in 1946, he was assigned to the same low-level position he had held before his military service. He then began a career-long struggle to win equal treatment for himself and his fellow African-American GPO employees.

In 1972, represented by Committee staff and the firm of Hogan & Hartson, Mr. McKenzie initiated a class action lawsuit to challenge racial discrimination against African-American pressmen at the GPO. Fifteen years later, his determination led to a landmark victory that secured a record $2.4 million payment to hundreds of African-American workers and, even more important, a fundamental restructuring of personnel policies that opened the door of equal opportunity to countless minority workers.

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)

No civil rights organization in our country better represents the courage, dedication and commitment to equal justice we associate with Alfred McKenzie than the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). For nearly one hundred years it has been in the vanguard of virtually every aspect of the struggle for civil rights in our society. Its record of leadership in pressing our Nation to make good on its historic promise of liberty and justice for all constitutes a unique and lasting achievement.

The Washington Lawyers’ Committee is honored that on numerous occasions it has been afforded the opportunity to work with this organization on issues of common concern. These efforts began in the early 1970’s when our staff joined with the NAACP to challenge pervasive racial discrimination in the D.C. construction industry and continued as we worked together to confront issues of employment discrimination in the federal government and police misconduct. Most recently we have joined forces on a series of cases challenging denials of public accommodations by major restaurant chains and hotels.

In all of these matters, the NAACP has demonstrated a sense of purpose and conviction that call to mind the qualities so evident in the life of Alfred McKenzie. It is a distinct pleasure to honor this organization for all that it has done in pursuit of goals for which Mr. McKenzie fought so valiantly.