Marc H. Morial And The National Urban League Mourn The Passing of Jerome “Big Duck” Smith, A Beloved New Orleans Son
NEW YORK, NY (August 24, 2026 ) – The National Urban League and Marc H. Morial mourn the loss of Jerome “Big Duck” Smith, a Civil Rights Movement champion who fought segregation and kept the movement’s legacy alive through teaching younger generations.
“The loss of Jerome “Big Duck” Smith is a painful one for New Orleans and the entire Civil Rights community,” said Marc H. Morial, President and CEO of the National Urban League. “As the Urban League movement once again gears up for a fight against attempts to compartmentalize our society and American life based on race, we’re reminded of not only his sacrifice at a young age, but his commitment to empowering generations to come.”
Smith joined the movement as a teenager, joining the New Orleans chapter of the Congress of Racial Equality at 19. He participated in sit-ins and boycotts challenging segregation, and in 1961, Smith became a Freedom Rider, joining Black and white activists who traveled by bus across the South to protest segregation at bus terminals.
Two years later, he joined novelist James Baldwin and other prominent civil rights figures for a meeting with then-U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, where he described the realities Black Americans faced in this country.
Smith went on to found Tambourine and Fan, a program that taught young people about Black history, New Orleans culture and traditions. For generations of children in the Sixth Ward, the program became a place to learn both about their history and community.
His community impact extended to the city of New Orleans, where he worked alongside Marc Morial during Morial's tenure as mayor to expand job programs and summer youth programs, impacting thousands of lives across the city.
"He was a champion for children and young people and worked diligently without compromise," said Morial. "His impact will be part of New Orleans history for generations."
As we mourn the loss of this Civil Rights champion, community leader, and mentor, we will honor his legacy by remaining steadfast in the continued fight for economic and social parity for all Americans regardless of race.