Changes

Douglas pushed to accelerate school desegregation, a gradual process completed in all sixty-four parishes by August 1970, including Douglas' native Tensas Parish, which is predominantly African American. In 1970, Douglas was arrested when he attempted to dine at an all-white establishment in Baton Rouge. The incident occurred six years after passage of the [[Civil Rights Act of 1964]]. Douglas retained as his attorney Murphy Bell, also a former NAACP state president.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/19937054.html?index=1&c=y|title=Civil-rights attorney Murphy Bell, 87, dies|publisher=''The Baton Rouge Advocate''|date=June 14, 2008|accessdate=December 16, 2010; o longer on-line}}</ref>

Douglas pushed to accelerate school desegregation, a gradual process completed in all sixty-four parishes by August 1970, including Douglas' native Tensas Parish, which is predominantly African American. In 1970, Douglas was arrested when he attempted to dine at an all-white establishment in Baton Rouge. The incident occurred six years after passage of the [[Civil Rights Act of 1964]]. Douglas retained as his attorney Murphy Bell, also a former NAACP state president.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/19937054.html?index=1&c=y|title=Civil-rights attorney Murphy Bell, 87, dies|publisher=''The Baton Rouge Advocate''|date=June 14, 2008|accessdate=December 16, 2010; o longer on-line}}</ref>

In 1976, Douglas quarreled at the national NAACP convention in [[Memphis]], [[Tennessee]], with executive director [[Roy Wilkins]], who postponed his planned retirement from the organization by an additional year. Wilkins criticized certain board members as having conducted a "campaign of vilification" against him, questioning his integrity, health, and competence. Wilkins had threatened lawsuits against the offenders. Douglas took a microphone and rebuked Wilkins: "I resent allegations against board members unless they are named."<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,914269,00.html#ixzz18J2S8yj2|title="Races: A Leader's Dissonant Swan Song," July 12, 1976|publisher=''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]''|date=July 12, 1976|accessdate=December 16, 2010}}</ref>  

In 1976, Douglas quarreled at the national NAACP convention in [[Memphis]], [[Tennessee]], with executive director Roy Wilkins, who postponed his planned retirement from the organization by an additional year. Wilkins criticized certain board members as having conducted a "campaign of vilification" against him, questioning his integrity, health, and competence. Wilkins had threatened lawsuits against the offenders. Douglas took a microphone and rebuked Wilkins: "I resent allegations against board members unless they are named."<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,914269,00.html#ixzz18J2S8yj2|title=Races: A Leader's Dissonant Swan Song|date=July 12, 1976|publisher=''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]''|accessdate=November 11, 2019; under pay wall}}</ref>  

Douglas died at the age of fifty-four of a heart attack at New Roads General Hospital.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nytimes.com/1981/03/26/obituaries/emmitt-douglas.html|title=Emmitt Douglas obituary|publisher=''[[The New York Times]]''|date= March 25, 1981|accessdate=November 11, 2019; under pay wall}}</ref> He and his wife are entombed at the St. Augustine Catholic Church Mausoleum in New Roads.<ref name=lahist/>

Douglas died at the age of fifty-four of a heart attack at New Roads General Hospital.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nytimes.com/1981/03/26/obituaries/emmitt-douglas.html|title=Emmitt Douglas obituary|publisher=''[[The New York Times]]''|date= March 25, 1981|accessdate=November 11, 2019; under pay wall}}</ref> He and his wife are entombed at the St. Augustine Catholic Church Mausoleum in New Roads.<ref name=lahist/>