[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 10002]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING C. FREDERICK ROBINSON

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DALE E. KILDEE

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 23, 2011

  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, it is with a profound sadness that I rise 
today to pay tribute to a dear friend, Attorney C. Frederick Robinson, 
who passed away on Saturday, June 18th in Flint Michigan.
  C. Frederick Robinson moved to Flint after receiving his Doctorate of 
Jurisprudence from Howard University in 1956. He was admitted to the 
State Bar of Michigan and established his practice in an office at the 
corner of Saginaw and Baker Streets. He practiced law in the City of 
Flint continuously since that time. From the beginning of his career, 
C. Frederick was an outstanding advocate for justice. He was a 
passionate fighter for the poor, disenfranchised and minority 
communities and I have been his friend for over 50 years.
  As a leader in the civil rights movement, C. Frederick's list of 
landmark cases is extensive. He initiated the complaint that ended the 
Flint Board of Education practice of separate screening committees for 
black and white teachers. He initiated the lawsuit that ended the Flint 
Memorial Park Cemetery practice of not allowing blacks to be buried at 
the cemetery. He participated in the lawsuit that declared the local 
loitering ordinance unconstitutional. He led the effort to have the 
first black to be elected to the Flint Board of Education and the fight 
to have the first black female elected to the same body. He was 
instrumental in the election of the first black Secretary of State in 
Michigan. He participated in the lawsuit to allow the NAACP to erect a 
platform at Flint City Hall to hold a rally. He also represented 
Clifford Scott in a lawsuit to enact Affirmative Action in the 
construction business.
  In 1968 C. Frederick Robinson helped shape civil rights history in 
the United States. He and his partner, A. Glen Epps, wrote Flint's open 
housing ordinance. I remember numerous open housing strategy sessions 
at C. Frederick's office, the 50 Grand Club, the Vets Club, and the 
Golden Leaf. I also recall the picket lines which brought Governor 
George Romney to Flint for a unity rally that drew thousands. The 
ordinance was placed on the ballot and C. Frederick was determined it 
would pass. C. Frederick was tireless in his efforts to galvanize the 
community when working on the fair housing referendum. When the vote 
was taken on February 20, 1968, Flint became the first city in the 
nation to pass by popular vote an open housing referendum. C. Frederick 
said years later about the vote, ``We resolved to change the community, 
we narrowly won.'' He was a seeker of justice and a natural leader who 
was assertive when pushing for what he believed in.
  For his lifetime of service, C. Frederick was inducted into the 
National Bar Association Hall of Fame. Other organizations that have 
honored him include the Mallory, Van Dyne and Scott Bar Association, 
the Genesee Bar Association, and the NAACP. He has served as an 
Executive Board Member of the NAACP, President of the Community Civil 
League, was a founder and President of the Urban Coalition of Flint. He 
was a member of Christ Fellowship Baptist Church, a life member of the 
Flint NAACP, and a member of the Trade Leader Membership Council. 
Deeply committed to education, he prepared his three daughters, Dr. 
Debra Robinson, Attorney Rachel Robinson, and Yvette Robinson, a Social 
Worker, to work hard and achieve their dreams.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to take a moment of 
silence to remember the life of C. Frederick Robinson. My condolences 
go out to his family and friends. I deeply mourn his passing and will 
miss his enthusiasm, his outspoken passion for justice, and his love of 
life. May his legacy of compassion for those less fortunate live on 
after him for many, many years.

                          ____________________