he was a native of asheville, north carolina. he received a bachelor's degree from howard in 1936 and a law degree in 1939, followed by a master of laws degree from harvard university in 1941. he worked in the war division of the u.s. department of justice during world war ii, then returned to howard as a professor of law in 1946. in 1966 he was named john mercer langston professor of law, and in 1969 he became dean of the law school.