Robert L. Millender Sr. (1916–1978) was an attorney, a rights activist in the city of Detroit and political campaigner, best known for his drive to improve the representation of African Americans in political leadership.

Biography

As a young attorney Robert Millender forged and successfully ran the political campaigns of a great many African-American politicians. Most noted are former Secretary of State Richard Austin, Congressman

John Conyers John James Conyers Jr. (May 16, 1929October 27, 2019) was an American politician of the Democratic Party who served as a U.S. representative from Michigan from 1965 to 2017. The districts he represented always included part of western Detroit. ...

and Mayor

Coleman Young Coleman Alexander Young (May 24, 1918 – November 29, 1997) was an American politician who served as mayor of Detroit, Michigan, from 1974 to 1994. Young was the first African-American mayor of Detroit. Young had emerged from the far-left ele ...

. The University of Rochester Millender Fellowship was established in memory of Robert. L. Millender. Wayne State University runs the Robert L. and Louise Millender Memorial Lecture. In early 1980s the

Millender Center The Millender Center is a mixed-use complex in downtown Detroit, Michigan. The complex spans two city blocks, containing a retail atrium, Detroit People Mover station, and parking garage on its first seven floors, plus the 33-floor Renaissance C ...

was named in honor of Robert Millender's contributions to Detroit.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Millender, Robert L. Sr. 1916 births 1978 deaths Wayne State College alumni Activists for African-American civil rights Lawyers from Detroit 20th-century American lawyers