Oscar Carr was born in
Clarksdale, Mississippi. He graduated from the
United States Naval Academy and served as a naval officer for three years before returning home to his family cotton farm. Carr credited the "racial militancy" of Governor
Ross Barnett of Mississippi and Governor
George Wallace of Alabama for spurring his interest in civil rights. Working with state
NAACP leader
Aaron Henry, he started an anti-poverty community action group in
Coahoma County. Later the same year he was a key member of the Loyal Democrats of Mississippi delegation which successfully challenged the regular delegation from the state for their seats at the
Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Carr died of cancer on November 5, 1977 at the age of 54. Over 500 people attended his funeral at the
Church of the Heavenly Rest in New York City on 8 November, which was presided over by Bishop
Paul Moore. == References ==