Marion C. Bascom

Marion C. Bascom is a civil rights leader and former leader of the Douglas Memorial Community Church of some 45 years.^[1] He was born March 14, 1922, to Mary Anderson and Bruce Bascom, He attended grade school in Pensacola, Florida, U.S.A. at the Spenc Bibbs school. This was followed by B. J. Washington High School, Florida Memorial and Howard University in Baltimore, Maryland.

Bascom reared four siblings, one being Bernadette Bascom who became a well known R&B singer in the United States. Fishing and camping were some of his activities, when not studying or taking place in the numerous Civil Rights activities that he supported, organized, and participated in throughout his career as a Reverend.

The churches in the area during early 1960s had, not only religion on their mind but together they, with the strong backing and knowledge of Rev. Bascom, participated in the desegregation of many of the areas parks and restaurants. For example on July 4. 1963 went to bat at the then, strictly white Gwynn Oak Amusement Park with major protests and marching that led to the arrest of many supporters but achieved eventual Integration on August 28, 1963.

His religion was a large part of his life, he attended Wesley Seminary and Garret Biblical Institute and became a Reverend. He started his ministry in St Augustine, Florida, where he was among the many depraved minority group and began to have strong feelings about the problems among the black people not only in the south but all over. He was asked to come to Baltimore in 1949, to join the Douglas Memorial Community Church, which is the oldest in Bolton Hill. This church was an independent, after splitting from Bethel A.M.E. in 1925.^{[2][3][4][5][6]}

Bascom serves on the Board of Directors of the Reginald L. Lewis Museum.

References

1. ^ What ever happened to...? Rev. Marion C. Bascom Balitmore Sun, January 06, 2007, Frederick N. Rasmussen
2. ^ Marion Bascom, Reverend, Interview by Richard Richardson, June 18.1976, Douglas Memorial Church, Baltimore, MD., Transcribed by, Jean Herbert,
3. ^ Baltimore National Heritage Area, Pennsylvania Avenue Heritage Trail, http://www.pennsylvaniaavenuebaltimore.com/attractions/attractions.html
4. ^ Research the Civil Rights Movement in Baltimore, Keep on Movin’ Toward Freedom: The “Free” State’s Struggle with Equality, A Research Project funded by the Anne F. Casey Foundation, Baltimore, MD. 2006-2007 http://www.mdcivilrights.org/churches.html 11/15/2010
5. ^ Maryland Historical Society, Oral History Office, OH8128, cassette tape #405, No, 5240-5241, and Biography.
6. ^ Baltimore Sun July 13, 1963 Historic Sun article (Integrating Gwynn Oak)

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Name	Bascom, Marion C
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Date of birth	March 14, 1925
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