A lot can happen in 99 years. But even given the relatively long time Cincinnati was touched by the presence of Marian Regelia Alexander Spencer, she accomplished much.
Spencer, who lived in Avondale, passed away last night at about 10 p.m., according to friends of the family. But her legacy will remain — concretely in the form of a section of Walnut Street downtown the city renamed in her honor in 2016 and in a wider sense through myriad contributions she made to civil rights in Cincinnati.
The granddaughter of a former slave, Spencer traced her lineage back to African-American, Native American and Scottish ancestors. She came to Cincinnati with her twin sister Mildred in 1938 to attend the University of Cincinnati, and stayed after marrying Donald Spencer. She received her degree in English in 1942 and had two children: Donald Jr. and Edward Spencer.
It was her children's desire to swim at Coney Island that sparked Spencer's first big integration effort. In 1952, she organized two dozen other women to push for the desegregation of the Cincinnati water park, which at the time did not admit black people.
"I called Coney Island and the girl who answered the phone said of course we’d be welcome," Spencer told CityBeat last year. ‘But we’re Negroes,’ I told her.”
That meant they would not be admitted into the pool, the voice on the other end of the phone said.
“I wanted to find out who had made that decision,” Spencer said. “My boys should be treated just like any other children.”
By that time, Spencer was already heavily involved in the local NAACP and was the first black woman in the Woman's City Club. She pulled from those affiliations to strengthen her cause, and with other women, faced armed security at the pool.
“The national NAACP told us we needed an integrated effort, so we had well-dressed white women in hats and gloves marching with us,” she said. “An integrated group of ministers drove to the front gate and was pelted with dirt clods and fruit.”
It took three years of pushing to get the park to admit blacks at all, and nine for black people to be allowed into Coney Island's Sunlite Pool.
Spencer didn't stop there, piling up a laundry list of contributions to racial integration in Cincinnati.
She raised $30,000 with her husband for legal efforts to desegregate Cincinnati Public Schools in the 1970s, when she chaired the Cincinnati NAACP's education committee. She became chapter president in 1981 — the first woman to do so — and then ran for Cincinnati City Council, becoming the first black woman elected to that body in 1983. She would later go on to become vice mayor.
The year after her council election, Spencer represented the state Democratic Party at the national party's convention. She did so again in 1988.
That was just the tip of the iceberg when it came to Spencer's civic engagement, however. During her life, she worked with the U.S. Civil Rights Commission, the American Civil Liberties Union, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, Planned Parenthood and a number of other organizations, including serving on the University of Cincinnati Board of Trustees for five years. She received numerous awards and recognitions for her work.
Last year, UC named a dormitory after her on its main campus — where she was prohibited from living due to her race during her time attending the school. The same year, Cincinnati Public Schools named the Spencer Center for Exceptional and Gifted Students in Walnut Hills in her honor.
Local leaders expressed their admiration for Spencer and sadness at her passing today. City flags will fly at half-mast in her memory.
"I’m trying desperately to find the words to express my gratitude for Marian Spencer, the first Black woman elected to Cincinnati City Council," council member Tamaya Dennard wrote on social media. "I sit in that seat at 801 Plum Street because of her. She dared to forge ahead when people told her no or that she needed to wait her turn. She wasn’t afraid to challenge norms. Our last conversation, she hugged me and said in my ear, 'Keep giving them hell, young lady! I’m proud of you.' That was truly everything."
“Small in stature, but a giant in impact, Marian Spencer led by example to build a more integrated city and we are all trying to live up to her example," Mayor John Cranley said in a statement. "We mourn this loss but we are so grateful our city is better for her life. One of my greatest joys as mayor was driving her to city hall the day we named a street in her honor, during which she shared with me that as a granddaughter of a slave she has seen a lot of change for the better. She was that change."
"Vice Mayor Marian Spencer worked tirelessly to better our community and her legacy will continue to inspire," Vice Mayor Christopher Smitherman tweeted. "We thank her for her years of service to our city. Our family extends our deepest condolences and will pray for the Spencer family during this very difficult time."
"Marian Spencer was a trail-blazing, barrier-breaking leader for Cincinnati and in the fight for Civil Rights," council member P.G. Sittenfeld said. "Among my fondest memories is getting to sit at her kitchen table and listen to her share stories and lessons from her incredible life. She will be missed greatly!"
