Jessica Cole Photo
Gloria L. Williams
In 1946, Gloria L. Williams attended the bridal shower of her cousin Constance “Connie” Baker Motley. She returned over the weekend to James Hillhouse High School to celebrate Connie again — this time for her posthumous induction into the Connecticut Freedom Trail.
Motley, who grew up in New Haven (Williams remembers visiting her home at 8 Garden St.), went on to become the first African-American woman to be appointed to the federal bench. When she was an attorney, Motley won nine out of the 10 court cases that she argued in front of the U.S. Supreme Court, many of them centered on civil rights. She was also the first female African-American to be elected to the New York State Senate.
On Saturday, the New Haven Public Schools graduate was officially inducted into the Connecticut The Freedom Trail. The trail, which was officially recognized in 1995 by Connecticut’s General Assembly, is a series of 120 sites across the state “associated with the heritage and movement towards freedom of its African American citizens.”
The corner of Day Street and Edgewood Avenue, which is close to Motley’s Garden Street childhood home, will be used to honor the judge. It will become part of the trail.
To add to Saturday’s ceremony, a proclamation from Governor M. Jodi Rell declared September 25, 2010 as “Judge Constance Baker Motley Day.”
The keynote speaker at Saturday’s event was Jacqueline Berrien, the chairwoman of the U.S. Commission on Equal Economic Opportunity, who took the stage after the upbeat musical contributions of the St. Luke’s Episcopal Steel Band. In between the two, Elaine Peters, a New Haven multimedia performance and crafts artist, danced in the doorway and greeted attendees.
“This event is history making,” she said about Motley’s addition to the Freedom Trail. “This is another piece of history that is being put in place.”
Joel Motley
Motley’s son, Joel Motley, traveled from Westchester for the event. He said the event would have meant a lot to his mother.
“She was a great student of history [and] a great believer in the power of history,” he said.
Politicians of all stripes showed up to honor the late judge. Mayor John DeStefano sent a staffer to read a proclamation on behalf of the city. State Sen. Toni Harp, State Rep. Gary Holder-Winfield, and State Treasurer Denise Nappier also gave remarks praising Motley.
Several representatives from the soon-to-open START Community Bank sat in the center of the auditorium wearing white T‑shirts advertising the bank. They said they were there to show support.
In welcoming guests to his high school, Kermit Carolina, the new principal of Hillhouse, summed up his view of Judge Motley’s journey from the public schools of New Haven to the federal bench.
“The story … should inspire our students to overcome any challenges they may inspire in their [own] lives,” he said.
Williams, the cousin and bridesmaid of Connie, agreed. She added one more reason that she appreciated being there.
“I’m just tickled to be alive to be a part of this,” she said.
Politicians of all stripes showed up to honor the late judge. Mayor John DeStefano sent a staffer to read a proclamation on behalf of the city. State Sen. Toni Harp, State Rep. Gary Holder-Winfield, and State Treasurer Denise Nappier also gave remarks praising Motley
If Judge Motley was here today none of the above photo ... Pinocchio poltiticians would be around her.