MALCOLM FARMER III will receive Family Service of Rhode Island’s Brighter Futures Award during a luncheon on Oct. 20. Farmer is an attorney and partner at Hinckley Allen & Snyder LLP. When Farmer was a young lawyer in 1965, he left Hinckley Allen to protect the constitutional rights of African-American workers and citizens in Mississippi. He returned to Rhode Island two years later to serve as the executive director of the Governor’s Commission on Crime Delinquency and Criminal Administration. Farmer has been a longtime advocate for civil rights and he participates on a number of local boards, including Family Service of Rhode Island, where he serves as president. He holds a B.A. from Yale University and a LLB from Harvard University.
Could you describe the civil rights work you did?
My legal work in Mississippi consisted of representing local black citizens and civil rights organizations in efforts to gain and protect their constitutional rights. [We] were defending them against false criminal charges, for exercising First Amendment rights and for trying to register to vote, to integrate public accommodations and schools and to obtain fair treatment and opportunities under federal and state assistance programs.
What does the Malcolm Farmer III and Susan L. Farmer Fund support?
One: combating racism, racial discrimination, discrimination on account of sexual orientation, juvenile delinquency and/or child abuse. Two: providing educational and/or athletic opportunities. Three: providing support for improving the quality of public education. Four: promoting or fostering affirmative action. Five: advocating for nonviolence. Six: assisting documented and undocumented immigrants.
What are some ways a person or organization can help to promote equality in their community?
A person should first learn about slavery and racism in the United States so that he or she understands their history. One can teach children about the evils of intolerance and the importance of treating others with tolerance and respect for diversity. •
