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Saluting a young warden from over 50 years agoPhillip Colbert, the first Arundel County, standing Calvert Street in 1961.Courtesy photoAfrican-American warden in Anne on the steps of the county jail atHere we are at the 50th anniversary of a tumultuous time in this country’s history. It has only been 50 years since the assassination of Medgar Evers in Mississippi, the 1963 march on Washington, DC, and the assassination of the Nation’s 35th President, John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963. 50 years since our parents (both black and white), were foot soldiers in the civil rights movement and thought they had changed the county forever with the subsequent passing of the “Civil Rights Act in 1964, until this week.Locally, our ancestors were assisting Freedom Riders, staging sit-ins and being arrested in protest of segregated facilities in the county and Annapolis. Anne Arundel County Public Schools continued to be segregated (with the exception of those experimenting with voluntary desegregation) until 1966, while the African-American male Laymen’s Corps, successfully registered the largest number of African-Americans voters in the history of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County.In the movement, the NAACP is extremely active and vocal, the Frontiers have the ear of the Governor, and the African-American community, through their own incredible efforts to end segregation through desegregation and opening doors for their descendants, was positioned for change.By 1963, with the entire Country turned upside down, Anne Arundel County has in its employ, along with the first African American Deputy Sheriff, George Phelps (appointed in 1952), one of two African-American Wardens in this Country. Phillip Colbert was 23 years old when he was appointed to the position of Warden by Anne Arundel County’s Sheriff, Joseph Alton, Jr. in1961.How does a young African American male in Anne Arundel County become warden at Calvert Street Jail in 1961? Phil’s answer to this question was quite endearing. Simply stated, he stayed away from trouble, watched and listened to his elders, and felt compelled toopen doors for others during a troubling period in our history.Bom on Northwest Street in1938, Phil was raised in Camp Parole,7th of 10children.Educatedin the AnneArundel County Public School system, Phil attended Parole Elementary, graduated from the Wiley H. Bates High School and attended Bowie State College. Before graduating from high school, Phil was hired to work at Carvel Hall by Bell Captain and maitre d’ Marcellus Hall.Captain Hall was one of Phil’s elder and mentor, as were many others at the time. The men of the church (St. Phillips), the aldermen, the owners of the barbershops, the men of the Laymen’s Corps, the men of the NAACP, the men of the Masonic Lodge, the men of the Frontiers, and the men belonging to the special deputy sheriffs all acted as mentors. These men were the mentors of young African-American men of this community back in the day. These were the men who you engaged and listened to, on your journey to self sufficiency.It was through conversations with Captain Hall when Phil expressed an interest finding a better job. Think Phil had marriage and a family on his mind.It is hard to ask a girl to marry you if you don’t have two pennies to rub together. Captain Hall, always looking to uplift the young men of his race, was very quick to send Phil to see T. Norwood Brown, who was at one time alderman for the City of Annapolis. Well, one thing led to another and Phil wound up in the office of Sheriff Joseph Alton, Jr. and the rest is history.In 1960, Phil was hired as a guard at the Anne Arundel County Jail and on May 25, 1961, Phil was appointed tothe position of warden of the Anne Arundel County Jail at Calvert Street by Sheriff Alton. Doors were opening in this county, Phil Colbert and many others to follow, were slowly walking in.What a proud moment! For Phil, he understood deeply the sacrifices made by those before him, and the support of his wife, Alverta. Phil was honored and ready to set an example for other men of his race. For the community, everybody claimed him, and it was the moment that they had hoped and prayed for; moving a race of people to the next level of equality.Phil left his position as Warden at county jail after the election of Sheriff Higgins who had other plans for Phil’s position. Phil left and worked at Crownsville for a few years before applying for a position at the Anne Arundel County Police Department. Phil was not selected, only a few years after being Warden. He then took a job with the Annapolis Police Department.It would not be long before Phil understood that his calling was not enforcement but rehabilitation. It was at this time Phil would begin a career at the State of Maryland’s Juvenile Justice Department where he would retire as one of the state’s top officials.Phil Colbert, husband to Alverta, and father to Shelly, Shannon, Phillip II, and Deon, sacrificed to make a better world for those who were to follow.Today I hope that you and all the other foot soldiers of the civil rights movement forgive us who stood by and allowed the Supreme Court to strike down provisions of the Voting Rights Act that you and others gave your life for.I pray that my generation will not be remembered as the generation that was asleep behind the wheel. You are the reason that we must keep our eyes on the prize! Thank you!OURLEGACYBy Janice Hayes-Williams
Newspaper Details
Capital Gazette
Annapolis, Maryland, US
Thu, Jun 27, 2013
Page 10
Full Page
Clipped by
Anne A.
MD, USA 27 Jan 2021
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