As pastor of Second Baptist Church for over 30 years, Poindexter used his platform to fight for justice and uplift his community.
A leader in the Underground Railroad and president of the Sons of Protection, he worked tirelessly to end slavery and promote civil rights.
Committed to lifelong learning, he advocated for Black education and was honored with a Doctor of Divinity in recognition of his impact.
Reverend James Preston Poindexter’s lifelong dedication to civil rights, education, and community leadership left an enduring mark on Columbus. As a pastor, abolitionist, and advocate, he worked to uplift African Americans through faith, activism, and education. In recognition of his impact, Poindexter Village, one of the first public housing developments in the United States, was named in his honor in 1940. The community served as a beacon of Black resilience and progress, reflecting Poindexter’s legacy of empowerment and justice. Today, the Poindexter Village African American Museum honors his legacy by preserving his story and the rich history of the community he helped shape.
The historic Reverend James Preston Poindexter was an abolitionist, civil rights activist, politician, and Baptist minister from Columbus, Ohio. He was born in Virginia but moved to Ohio early in his life. Poindexter was a man of integrity, faith, respect, and one who had a life long pursuit of social justice for all.
In 1940, naming this complex Poindexter Village served to honor this man and in turn allowed generation of African-American families to grow up in what many would consider a true "village". In the words of Aminah Robinson “A Street Called Home.”
Reverend Poindexter is buried in Green Lawn Cemetery
Section 27 lot 150.
Poindexter Leads the Anti-Slavery Baptist Church Marker; Side B of Second Baptist Church, Columbus, Ohio.
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