FATHER OF NW LA. CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT - A driving force behind the civil rights movement in Northwest Louisiana has died. Several media reports indicate Dr. C.O. Simpkins passed away Wednesday evening after reportedly being hospitalized for several days. Born in Mansfield, Louisiana – Simpkins attended Wiley College in Marshall, Texas – Tennessee State University in Nashville, and the Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry. Simpkins served in the Air Force and reached the rank of Captain. He later returned to Shreveport to establish a dental practice and was among the founders of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. He became a
personal friend of Dr. Martin Luther King. Simpkins helped push for voter registration for African Americans and promote equal rights in Louisiana. At the height of the civil rights movement—his home and dental office were firebombed, and he was placed on a "death list" by white-supremacist organizations. In November 2018 -- The North Louisiana Civil Rights Coalition held a Living Legend Gala in his honor. At the time I asked Dr. Simpkins to share his thoughts about the current state of race relations.
"We have to know each other better, we've come a long way but we don't hate each other, we just don't know each other," said Simpkins. "When we know each other, we'll be friends. We found a relationship of love. Love is the most powerful substance in the whole world."
Simpkins served as a Democratic member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from the heavily African-American District 4 in Caddo Parish and served from 1992 to 1996. Dr Simpkins was 94 years old – funeral arrangements are pending.
