Luther Harold Stuckey
Civil Rights Freedom Rider on Route 301, his tireless activism made a significant difference in the desegregation of public facilities before and during the Civil Rights era.
1894 -1992
Luther Harold Stuckey was born in Johnsonville, South Carolina in 1894. He received his education at Allen University in Columbia, South Carolina before moving to North Carolina to work as a teacher. By the 1930s, he moved to St. Mary’s County, Maryland to continue working as an educator. Eventually he would become the principal for the school located in Drayden.
When World War II broke out in 1941, he took a job as a pipe fitter at the Naval Powder Factory in Indian Head, Maryland. He remained at the Naval Powder Factory (now the Naval Ordnance Station) until he retired in 1969. While working there, Stuckey campaigned to end segregation in the employees’ bathrooms and the cafeteria at the facility.
Stuckey became heavily involved in the Civil Rights Movement. He served as the president for the Charles County chapter of the NAACP for over 24 years. During his tenure, he worked to:
End segregation at the motels and restaurants located along Route 301 in Charles County. To achieve this, he enlisted the help of the national NAACP civil rights activists known as “Freedom Riders” to protest ‘whites only’ signage in public places. As a result of his tireless work, he succeeded in removing “White Only” signs.
Equal Pay and Fair Hiring Practices: He championed for equal pay and fair employment opportunities for Black workers, ensuring they received just compensation and equitable treatment. This included equal pay for teachers in Charles County.
Ride School Busses: He was also involved in what is known as the Hart Case. This case enabled non-white students to ride school buses in Charles County.
In an oral history interview Stuckey gave in 1976, he said that he faced opposition for his work to advance civil rights in both the Black and White communities in Southern Maryland. Stuckey candidly shared his experiences, shedding light on the struggles and triumphs of the civil rights movement in Maryland.
His legacy continues to inspire generations, reminding us of the power of advocacy and resilience. Oral history interview with Luther H. Stuckey housed at the Maryland Center for History and Culture. Permission granted.
Additional Resources
https://www.mdhistory.org/resources/luther-stuckey-interview/
https://thebaynet.com/charlescountynaacppreparestomarkmilestone-html/
Southern Maryland Studies Center / Interview with Luther Stuckey
