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- Coe’s social activism led her to run for public office and, when in 1951 she ran for the Grand Rapids Charter Commission, she became one of the first two Grand Rapids African American women to throw their hats in the ring.
Every year in Grand Rapids, a Giant Award for Humanities is presented in the name of this giant from the past: Ethel B. Coe. Both before and after Coe’s stint at age 68 with VISTA, Volunteers In Service To America, she invested in her community through organizational life and as an entertainer.
Feb 16, 2024 · Ethel B. Coe remains a beloved and revered figure, celebrated for her remarkable contributions as an entertainer, educator, and unwavering champion of civil and human rights. Her influence went beyond the boundaries of Grand Rapids as she also worked in communities across the United States.
Feb 9, 2023 · Ethel was incredibly active in her community work. She led membership initiatives and other projects for local chapters of the NAACP and Urban League; eventually, holding leadership positions for the Michigan Committee on Civil Rights, the Kent County Mental Hygiene Society, and the Grand Rapids Better Films Council.
Jul 14, 2020 · * Local artist Esan Sommersell will begin painting the mural of Ethel Coe, a renaissance woman who was a community activist, musician, actor and civil rights leader. The mural will be in the alley ...
Nov 16, 2020 · Ethel B. Coe was born in Virginia in 1899 - 30 years after the Civil War - and moved to Grand Rapids at age eight. Throughout her life, Coe was active in the...
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When Ethel sang the blues, Walter was her accompanist on piano. A highly sought-after soloist and thespian, Coe often performed in churches, at NAACP events and for literary clubs. Her acting ...
Ethel B. Coe 1899-1988. Ethel B. Coe was born in Virginia in 1899 - 30 years after the Civil War - and moved to Grand Rapids at age eight. Coe won a civil rights case while attending South High School after she was refused service at a local ice cream parlor. Throughout her life, Coe was active in the NAACP, Urban League, Family Life Council ...
