Julia Britton Hooks (May 4, 1852 – March 9, 1942), known as the "Angel of Beale Street,"[2] was a musician and educator whose work with youth, the elderly, and the indigent was highly respected in her family's home state of Kentucky and in Memphis, Tennessee, where she lived with her second husband, Charles F. Hooks.
She was raised in Lexington where she became well known as a musical prodigy at an early age, playing in parlor concerts for wealthy white families.
She taught music at the school from 1870 to 1872 (the first African-American to teach white students at Berea College), and graduated in the class of 1874.
[6] She lived in musicians' paradise, Beale Street, and became known for her local social service work.
"[7] Julia's grandson, Benjamin Hooks remembered her from his youth as "born to rebel," and he recalled during the [clarification needed] [5] that there were several instances when she was arrested for disobeying Jim Crow laws.
Julia battled segregation in public schools, inequality of facilities and the discriminatory treatment of African American children.
Hooks not only acted for African American civil rights but put her hard work and compassion to good use in other areas.