Morris Sr., William A. (1877 – 1951)

William A. Morris was born in North Carolina in 1877, and settled on Staten Island 1898. A successful local businessman he held one of the first Interstate Commerce Commission licenses ever issued. William was more than a businessman however, and with help he poured the foundation for and helped build the Shiloh AME Zion Church on Henderson Avenue. After an incident of housing discrimination against a prominent black family, the Brownes, near Manor Road, Morris, who believed in non-violent change, convinced the community that violence wasn't the answer. However, clearly some action was needed, and in 1925 he helped found and became the first president of the Staten Island chapter of the NAACP. William's son William Jr. was a WWII veteran and continued his father's community work through out his life.

Civic leader William A. Morris achieved success despite discrimination, read more at: https://tinyurl.com/y5fjrrqy.