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James Blackistone Dies; Federal Worker, Activist
Tuesday, September 7, 2004; Page B06
James Bruce Blackistone Sr., 95, a former federal employee who was
active in the Democratic Party and other civic activities in Prince
George's County, died Sept. 3 at his home in Hyattsville of
complications from a fall in July.
Mr. Blackistone was a native Washingtonian and a graduate of Dunbar
High School.
He spent 38 years working for the old Post Office Department, retiring
in the late 1960s as a railway mail clerk.
He settled in Prince George's in the mid-1960s and soon became a
presence in county politics. He played a key role in persuading the
county to build the first public pools to accommodate all races.
In 1974, he co-founded and served as president of Voters in Contact, a
predominantly black community group that lobbied for changes in law
enforcement and county government.
Winning a gubernatorial appointment in December 1982, he served about a
month as a member of the House of Delegates to fill the unexpired term
of Del. Anthony J. Cicoria (D), who had become a Prince George's County
Council member.
Over the years, Mr. Blackistone was a member of the county's advisory
committee on aging and a citizens advisory board to the county police.
He was on the executive board of Prince George's County Council of
Parent-Teacher Associations. He was a board member of the county's ACLU
chapter and legislative committee chairman of the county's NAACP
chapter.
In July 1965, he corresponded with Edward Bennett Williams, acting
president of the Washington Redskins, about what he viewed as a slight
to black ticket-holders. He was offended by the band's rendering of the
song "Dixie" and the flying of the Confederate flag.
"Let's make the Negro patron feel really welcome in 1965 and not accept
his $6.00 admission fee and then publicly insult him," he wrote.
Williams replied that month: "I agree with your suggestion and will see
that it is carried out."
His marriages to Edith Blackistone and Dorothy Blackistone ended in
divorce. A son from his first marriage, James Blackistone Jr., died in
1996.
Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Fredonia Blaine Blackistone of
Hyattsville; a daughter from his second marriage, Patricia Ann Newton
of Landover; a son from his third marriage, Kevin Blackistone of
Dallas; three grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and one
great-great-grandson.
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