page_title: G. Mennen Williams
hierarchical_section_title: G. Mennen Williams
caption_attribution_description: English: G. Mennen Williams (Michigan Governor)
context_page_description: Gerhard Mennen "Soapy" Williams was the 41st Governor of Michigan, elected in 1948 and serving six two-year terms in office. He later served as Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs under Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson and Chief Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court.
  Williams advocated for civil rights, racial equality, and justice for the poor. As assistant secretary of state, his remark that "what we want for the Africans is what they want for themselves," reported in the press as "Africa for the Africans," sparked controversy at the time.
  A staunch liberal, Williams was described by the Chicago Tribune as a political reformer who "helped forge the alliance between Democrats, blacks and union voters in the late 1940s that began a strong liberal tradition in Michigan."
context_section_description: Gerhard Mennen "Soapy" Williams (February 23, 1911 – February 2, 1988) was the 41st Governor of Michigan, elected in 1948 and serving six two-year terms in office. He later served as  Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs under Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson and Chief Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court.
  Williams advocated for civil rights, racial equality, and justice for the poor. As assistant secretary of state, his remark that "what we want for the Africans is what they want for themselves," reported in the press as "Africa for the Africans," sparked controversy at the time.
  A staunch liberal, Williams was described by the Chicago Tribune as a political reformer who "helped forge the alliance between Democrats, blacks and union voters in the late 1940s that began a strong liberal tradition in Michigan."
caption: Williams in August 1953
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