Augustus Hawkins
A quiet but relentless legislator who spent half a century in government, weaving the legal fabric of civil rights and economic justice from California to Capitol Hill.
1907–2007 (age 100)·American politician·Birthday: August 31·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Augustus Hawkins entered politics with a quiet intensity, becoming the first African American from California elected to the U.S. House in 1962. For nearly three decades in Washington, he avoided the spotlight but mastered the machinery of lawmaking. His legacy is etched into statute: as a freshman, he co-authored the pivotal Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which banned employment discrimination. He then spent years championing full employment, a battle that culminated in the 1978 Humphrey-Hawkins Act, which made the government responsible for fighting joblessness. Behind the scenes, Hawkins was a pragmatic architect, shepherding bills on minimum wage, school funding, and job training. His 'silent warrior' approach—focusing on substance over speechmaking—resulted in over three hundred pieces of legislation that expanded opportunity and defined the practical work of building a more equitable America.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Augustus was born in 1907, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Augustus Was Born
The biggest hits of 1907
Augustus's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1907Born
Financial panic grips Wall Street
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1912Started school
Titanic sinks on its maiden voyage
President: William Howard Taft
1920Became a teenager
Women gain the right to vote in the US
Home: $3,395President: Woodrow Wilson"Swanee" — Al Jolson
1923Could drive
The Great Kanto earthquake devastates Tokyo
President: Calvin Coolidge"Yes! We Have No Bananas" — Billy Jones
1925Could vote
The Scopes Trial debates evolution in schools
Home: $4,366President: Calvin Coolidge"Sweet Georgia Brown" — Ben Bernie
1928Turned 21
Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin; Mickey Mouse debuts
President: Calvin Coolidge"Ol' Man River" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: Wings
1937Turned 30
Hindenburg disaster; Golden Gate Bridge opens
Gas: $0.20/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" — Ella FitzgeraldBest Picture: The Life of Emile Zola
1947Turned 40
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1957Turned 50
Sputnik launches the Space Age
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $10,550Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"All Shook Up" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: The Bridge on the River Kwai
1967Turned 60
Summer of Love in San Francisco; first Super Bowl
Gas: $0.33/galHome: $14,250Min wage: $1.40/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"To Sir, with Love" — LuluBest Picture: In the Heat of the Night
1977Turned 70
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1987Turned 80
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
2007Died at 100
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
Key Achievements
- Co-authored Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.
- Was the principal House sponsor of the Humphrey-Hawkins Full Employment Act of 1978, a landmark law setting national goals for employment and inflation.
- Authored the 1978 School Improvement Act, which provided significant federal aid for elementary and secondary education.
- Served for 28 years in the U.S. House and 28 years in the California State Assembly, one of the longest combined legislative tenures in American history.
Did You Know?
He was the first African American to represent a Western state in the U.S. Congress.
Hawkins refused to join the Congressional Black Caucus initially, believing that segregating lawmakers by race was counterproductive, though he later became a member.
The Augustus F. Hawkins Centers of Excellence program, which supports teacher preparation at minority-serving institutions, is named in his honor.
He was a skilled tennis player in his youth and remained physically active throughout his life.
His congressional district in South Central Los Angeles was known for its high poverty rate, which directly informed his legislative focus on jobs and education.
“You don't have to be loud to be effective.”
