2013 OFJ Freedom Riders Hall of Fame
Inductees
Hans Anderson (Marcus Garvey)
"A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots ". According to
Dr. King, Garvey was the first man on a mass scale and level to give millions of Negroes a sense of dignity and
destiny and make the Negro feel he was somebody. When Hans Anderson-Garvey enters a room that same aura
resonates ... I am somebody. He strides across a room like no other giving prophecy and assurance that the Day of
Deliverance is at hand. Hans Anderson-Garvey is determined, bold, and strong, refusing to yield even to superior
forces if he believes he is right.
Troy H. Dangerfield (Charles Hamilton Houston)
Charles Hamilton Houston dedicated his life to using law as a tool to remedy consequences of racial discrimination
and break down structures that produce racial inequality. He served as the vice-dean of Howard Law School in the
1930s, and later on as the Litigation Director for the NAACP. Charles Houston played a significant role in
dismantling the Jim Crow laws, which earned him the title The Man Who Killed Jim Crow. Houston brought in the
nation’s top black litigators and teachers to Howard during a time they likely would have been denied
professorships at white law schools. Civil rights law was more or less invented under Houston’s leadership at
Howard. The school trained nearly a quarter of the nation’s black law students including many civil rights
luminaries, such as Thurgood Marshall. A lawyer, in Houston’s view, was an agent for social change—“either a
social engineer or a parasite on society.” In his work, Troy Hiram Dangerfield-Houston was always looking to
improve the situation for minorities like him. He would never shy away from cause that could improve situations
for minorities in the work place. He was also instrumental in making major changes in work place that benefit
minorities. He is modest and appreciates seeing the progress made by minorities.
We are certain Troy Dangerfield-Houston would simply say that he was just doing his part. However, his son, Troy
Jr., would say that his father is a quiet leader and cheerleader who set his goals toward improving opportunities for
all minorities that he knew and the future for minorities that he may never know.
Marion Jackson (Medgar Evers)
Medgar Evers was known as a great debater; responsible for investigative work involving the murders of other civil
rights activists. He fought to overturn segregation. Medgar Evers helped organize boycotts and set up new local
chapters of the NAACP. Marion has dedicated and pledged his life towards guiding our members in their civic
responsibilities regarding education, voting, law enforcement, preservation of property ownership, savings and in
all things which will make us stable, qualified conscientious American citizens. In the near future I speculate
Marion Jackson-Evers will host an OFJ Day Camp Meeting, Rally or Boycott for social justice.
Art Tapia (Malcolm X)
An outspoken leader and minister of human rights who preached against racism and many other "isms" which we
know are all based on fear of the unknown/something different. Malcolm X was one of the most influential
Freedom Riders and leaders in the Nation of Islam and later a Sunni Muslim. Art Tapia-X one of the Prophets and
one of our scholars of OFJ is a faithful, humble fighter committed to minorities, women, charity, politics,
communities and human free will. Prophet Art Tapia-X will meet with you in spite of cultural, religious or
philosophical differences. He preaches to us about our duties to learn from the past, our responsibilities and the
importance of reading and learning from our elders on a daily basis. Prophet Art Tapia-X will reach the mark, by
any means necessary.
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Joe Williams (Frederick Douglass)
Douglass with his wisdom successfully escaped his slave master boarding a train while dressed as a soldier.
Frederick Douglass was a lecturer and writer who firmly believed in the equality of all people, whether black,
female or recent immigrant, famously quoted as saying, "I would unite with anybody to do right and with nobody
to do wrong."
As Frederick Douglas would tenaciously chase down and give President Lincoln a piece of his mind, so would Joe, at
police meetings. The opposition would soon understand that he was not a “yes man”. Today Joe WilliamsDouglass doesn’t spit as much fire as he used to, but if you get on his wrong side, you will notice a lot of smoke.
Rodney Williams (Thurgood Marshall)
During his second year at Lincoln University, Justice Marshall got involved in a sit-in protest against segregation at
a local movie theatre. He was initiated as a member of the first black fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha. Justice Marshall is
best known for his high success rate in arguing before the Supreme Court and for the victory in Brown v. Board of
Education. He won his first major civil rights case, Murray v. Pearson, 169 Md. 478 (1936). This was the
first challenge of the "separate but equal" doctrine that was part of the Plessy v. Ferguson decision. His
co-counsel on the case, Troy Charles Hamilton Houston, developed the strategy. Rodney Williams-Marshall
is best known for his commitment and dedication to family, education, law enforcement and community relations.
Samuel Craig (W.E.B. Du Bois)
Awarded: “2013 OFJ Freedom Riders’ Trailblazer”
W.E.B. Du Bois strongly opposed racism, Jim Crow laws, discrimination in education and employment. His cause
included colored persons everywhere, particularly Africans and Asians. He was the first Black American to earn a
Ph.D. from Harvard University and in later years he held the position of Director of Publicity and Research for the
NAACP. Du Boise believed that ideas and morals were necessary tools to effect social change. He also sought to
encourage Black Americans to integrate into white society. He attributed many of our societal problems to the
dissolution of slavery (little to no education, money or skills), and as a professor who received grants from the U.S.
government to prepare reports about African-American workforce and culture. His students considered him a
brilliant, but strict instructor. Samuel Craig like W.E.B. Du Bois believes that Black Americans should fight for equal
rights, rather than passively submit to the segregation and discrimination. Samuel Craig-Du Bois encourages
scholastic achievements and promotions within the ranks of SFPD; he consistently discourages excuses from
members of OFJ based on his personal experience; “When you don’t give up you cannot fail!” Samuel Craig retired
at the rank of Deputy Chief in the San Francisco Police Department. He is one of our main teachers inspiring other
members to be active positive role models, establish personal goals, accept challenges and strive for the success.
Although he is not a founding father, he is one of our most viable members - Samuel Craig we salute you as our
honorary 2013 “OFJ Freedom Rider Trailblazer”.
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