William Ashbie Hawkins

Who was William Ashbie Hawkins?

William Ashbie Hawkins was one of Baltimore's first African American lawyers. He was born in Lynchburg, Virginia on August 2, 1862. He graduated in 1885 from Centenary Biblical Institute, and the University of Maryland, and Howard University. He was admitted to the Maryland bar in 1897. About 1905 Hawkins joined forces with George W.F. McMechen in the firm of Hawkins and McMechen. His biggest professional mark came in 1917 before the U.S. Supreme Court in Buchanan v. Warley. He served as counsel to the Baltimore chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the Afro-American newspapers. Hawkins died from heart disease on April 3, 1941 at Provident Hospital and was buried at Mount Auburn Cemetery.

One of Hawkins grandsons who went by Red Thunder Cloud, had refashioned a Hispanic and Native American background for himself.