In celebration of Juanita Craft’s birthday, nominations for the Juanita Craft Humanitarian Awards are now open online. Established by the State Fair of Texas in 2018, the annual awards honor individuals and organizations across the DFW Metroplex who embody Mrs. Craft’s lifelong commitment to civil rights, social justice, and community service.
Born February 9, 1902, Juanita Craft was a pioneering civil rights activist, politician, and advocate for racial and social justice in Dallas. A granddaughter of slaves, she experienced discrimination early in life, including the loss of her mother after being denied medical care because of her race. Despite earning a college degree, Craft struggled to find work in Dallas and eventually took a job as a bell maid, an experience that fueled her fight against inequality.
In 1935, Craft joined the NAACP, where she found her life’s calling. She became a Texas NAACP field organizer and helped establish more than 180 branches statewide. In 1944, Craft made history as the first Black woman in Dallas County to vote in a public election, and later in the 1970s, she served two terms on the Dallas City Council.
One of Craft’s lasting legacies was her work with youth. In the 1940s, she founded the Dallas NAACP Youth Council, the first of its kind, which became a national model for youth activism. Together, they organized peaceful sit-ins, pickets, and protests to challenge racial injustice.
Craft played a major role in integrating the State Fair of Texas, Dallas public schools, and many local universities, theaters, and restaurants. Beginning in 1955, she led annual peaceful protests until the State Fair was fully desegregated in 1967.
She lived in South Dallas for 50 years, and in 1994, her home at 2618 Warren Avenue became a national house museum, which has been visited by leaders such as Lyndon B. Johnson and Martin Luther King Jr. The City of Dallas has also honored Craft through landmarks bearing her name, including a recreation center, a city park, and a post office.
Each year during the State Fair of Texas, the Juanita Craft Humanitarian Awards ceremony celebrates individuals who are following in her footsteps of advocating for civil rights and working to create positive change in their communities. Hosted by the State Fair of Texas and the Juanita J. Craft Civil Rights House & Steering Committee, this annual event raises awareness of the life, legacy, and lasting impact of Mrs. Juanita J. Craft while celebrating her contributions to the civil rights movement. Through ongoing programming, education, and community engagement, her home serves as an educational tool and resource for generations to come.
Nominations are evaluated based on impact, active involvement in the community, commitment to social justice through notable efforts, evidence of time and resources used to address issues in the community, and the quality of the submission. The awards recognize past, present, and future leaders who embody Mrs. Craft’s spirit of service and advocacy.
Know of an individual who should be nominated for a Juanita Craft Humanitarian Award? Applications are accepted year-round, however in order to be eligible for the current year, your application must be received by July 15. Any applications received after July 15 will be placed under consideration for next year’s awards. Learn more and apply at BigTex.com/JCHA.