“S” is for Spencer, James Alexander (1850-1911)

“S” is for Spencer, James Alexander (1850-1911). Legislator, educator. Spencer was born in Charleston, the son of free persons of color. He acquired a good education and like his parents was a practicing Catholic. As a member of the SC House of Representatives, he introduced and worked for legislation to improve funding for public education. In Charleston when he was denied membership in the White-dominated Charleston branch of the Catholic Knights of America, he organized a separate chapter for Blacks. Spencer played a leading role in the national Black Catholic lay congresses held from 1889 to 1894. He presided over the third Congress in 1892, making an impassioned plea for education. James Alexander Spencer was president of the fourth Catholic Lay Congress in 1893 where he deplored the establishment of special churches for African Americans.