It was the era of “Jim Crow” in Palm Beach County, the State of Florida and throughout the South when F. Malcolm Cunningham, Sr. first came to this community. Many were in denial about the segregated conditions that existed and about all the other challenges facing African Americans. Cunningham however, felt it a duty and obligation to battle injustices and inequality wherever he found it.

Attorney F. Malcolm Cunningham, Sr. began his legal career in private practice in the City of West Palm Beach, Florida in 1953. His first office was located in the heart of the City at 500 Rosemary Avenue, within walking distance of the Courthouse. Many other Black businesses were also located on Rosemary Avenue at the time. Cunningham would later relocate to 600 Rosemary Avenue to where he successfully practiced law for many years.

Being a very knowledgeable and gregarious person, Cunningham was a respected leader throughout the entire community -- both Black and White -- and soon rose up the ranks with a series of “firsts.” The most noteworthy of his accomplishments include, making Florida history in 1962 as the first Black ever elected to public office in the South since Reconstruction. The Palm Beach Post wrote that Cunningham’s opponent, a 13-year veteran on the City Council, said: “I wouldn’t mind so much if it had been a White man, but I’m the first White man in the State of Florida to be defeated by a Negro. That’s hard.”

Cunningham first ran for the Florida State Legislature in 1956. He also became the first Black to serve as City Attorney for Riviera Beach, Florida and teamed with Attorney William M. Holland to help force the desegration of Palm Beach County Schools and battled to open all public facilities to Blacks.

The Palm Beach Post would later write that “whatever is ‘Open’ about Palm Beach County politics, schools, housing and jobs is due in large part to F. Malcolm Cunningham, Sr.’s leadership.”

A native Floridian, F. Malcolm Cunningham, Sr. was born on January 27, 1927 in Plant City, Florida to Mr. and Mrs. Garrison S. Cunningham, Sr. He attended Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, Florida and obtained his B.A. and law degree from Howard University in Washington, D.C.

Although, Cunningham came along during a difficult era, he knew how to deal with the power structure with finesse. He used his talents, articulation and expertise to persuade those in the majority to help those of the minority move upward and onward toward a better quality of life.

He helped organize a Progressive Citizens group in Belle Glade and a Small Loan Company to assist Black owned businesses. Later, he would go on to become one of the founders and organizers of the First Prudential Bank in West Palm Beach, subsequently known as Palm Beach Lakes Bank and Southcoast Bank; the first minority commercial bank in the State of Florida.

In addition to his active memberships in The Florida Bar, The National Bar, The American Bar Association and The Palm Beach County Bar Association, he also worked hard and long from the trenches to the streets as a loyal member of the NAACP. He served as deacon and chairman of the Board of Trustees at Tabernacle Baptist Church. He loved his Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, was an Elk, Mason and yet, found time to serve on many civic boards and councils in the community and state.

He has received numerous and well-deserved awards of Excellence and Special Recognition for his outstanding contributions and invaluable service to and for Palm Beach County and the State of Florida. F. Malcolm Cunningham, Sr. seized the opportunity to begin the removement of the shackles that had long denied equality and justice for Blacks for far too long.

Before his passing in 1978, F. Malcolm Cunningham, Sr. was a senior partner in the Law Firm of Cunningham and Cunningham, formed in 1960 with his younger brother, T. J. Cunningham, Sr.