Hooks, Benjamin (Lawson) (1925– )

US judge, public official, and civil-rights reformer. He gained national recognition as the first African-American to serve on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) 1972–77, where he became a driving force to improve both the portrayal of and employment opportunities for African-Americans in the electronic media. He succeeded Roy Wilkins as executive director of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) 1977–93 and pushed the organization to be more vocal and activist in pro-black concerns. He was producer and host of a number of television programmes airing racial issues.

Born in Memphis, Tennessee, he was a lawyer as well as an ordained minister, pastor of the Middle Baptist Church of Memphis 1956–72, and cofounder and vice-president of the Mutual Federal Savings and Loan Association 1955–69. He was the first black judge to serve in the Shelby County Criminal Court 1965–68.