Font ResizeWhen James Sexton left York and attended Howard University in Washington, D.C., he met students from all over the world, including Africa and Italy.
They intrigued him so much, that he decided to study economics and political science.
"Right away I understood that government is run by economics and politics," Sexton said. "Right away I decided to get a better understanding of that."
He studied under Dr. Ralph Johnson Bunche, a U.N. diplomat and 1950 winner of the Nobel Peace Prize for negotiating armistices between Israel and the Arab nations. Bunche was the first black person to win the prize.
Sexton also met Eleanor Roosevelt while at Howard.
Sexton's education led him to become a member of task forces and committees that helped black people across the country become business owners.
"That was a weak thing nationally," he said. "I was lucky at Howard to actually work in the Senate offices and the White House office to help people get money and things for business."
He credits former President Richard Nixon for starting some of the task forces, in spite of the "criticism he gets."
"Nixon was the first one to come
"I was right in the middle of all this stuff," he said.
What is your proudest accomplishment?
Sexton said he was proud to be able to eliminate poverty in his own life, remembering working as a busboy at a York hotel.
"I was making 75 cents a day and, to me, that's poverty," he said, adding that he is glad he was able to help other people in need.
"And having some fun every day," Sexton said. "That's one of my proudest accomplishments because I've been able to do that every day. I put that high on my list."
What makes a hero?
Someone who helps other people, Sexton said, adding it's really what other people say about a person that makes one a hero.
Who is your hero?
"Well, my grandfather, the late Rev. James I. Sexton, my father's father, and Ralph Bunche would be the other. Bunche, he was head of the political science department at Howard, one of the founders of the United Nations," he said.
What affect did you have on York County or on your profession?
"Well, now in York I was back and forth doing various chores before I passed the bar, participating in civic, religious and family activities," he said.
"In my profession, I think the main thing I did was initiate business," he said, "because the weakest thing we had in the African-American community when I was a young man was business ownership."
Who or what is your inspiration?
"God, because my grandfather is a Baptist reverend and my mother's father was a Baptist reverend," he said.
What is your favorite York County memory?
"Being told by my uncle that I was on the distinguished honor roll at York High," Sexton said. "He came home from work after seeing it in the newspaper and told me. It stuck with me all these years. I didn't even know they had a distinguished honor roll."
"Also, being a tenor saxophone player in the City of York," he said. "We used to play dances around there."
What would you like your hometown to know about you?
"I want people to say that interaction with me makes them happy, feel peace and have joy," Sexton said. "Because my favorite slogan is don't sweat the small stuff and don't let them steal your joy."
If you could change one thing about your life or something you did, what would it be?
"I would participate in more events for ordinary people like me," Sexton said. "I believe that everybody is a shining star no matter who they are."
JAMES SEXTON BIOGRAPHY
Occupation: Retired from the law firm of Robert Sexton & Moultrie in Washington, D.C., which specialized in entrepreneurial and domestic international business.
Born: Sept. 1, 1927
Birthplace: Bamberg, S.C.
Current home: Silver Spring, Md.
Marital Status: Married for 46 years to Audrey Sease
Children: none
Education: Earned a bachelor's degree in economics and political science from Howard University in Washington, D.C.; Received a law degree from Georgetown Law School in Washington, D.C.
