Who was A. Philip Randolph? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Died At Age: 90

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Lucille Green

father: James William Randolph

mother: Elizabeth Robinson Randolph

siblings: James Randolph

Atheists African Americans

Died on: May 16, 1979

place of death: New York City

U.S. State: Florida

Ideology: Socialists

More Facts

education: City College of New York

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1

What was A. Philip Randolph's role in the civil rights movement?

A. Philip Randolph was a prominent civil rights leader who focused on advocating for equal rights and opportunities for African Americans, particularly in the workforce.
2

What impact did A. Philip Randolph have on the labor movement?

A. Philip Randolph was instrumental in organizing labor unions and advocating for fair wages and working conditions for African American workers, which helped to advance the labor movement as a whole.
3

How did A. Philip Randolph contribute to the desegregation of the military?

A. Philip Randolph played a key role in pressuring the U.S. government to desegregate the military through his advocacy efforts and organizing the March on Washington Movement during World War II.
4

What was the significance of A. Philip Randolph's role in the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom?

A. Philip Randolph was a key organizer of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963, where Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech, highlighting the importance of economic justice and civil rights.
5

How did A. Philip Randolph's activism influence future civil rights leaders?

A. Philip Randolph's activism and leadership in the civil rights and labor movements inspired future generations of activists and leaders to continue fighting for social justice and equality.

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Childhood & Early Life

He was born on April 15, 1889, as the second son of James William Randolph and his wife Elizabeth Robinson. His father, a tailor, was also a minister in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, while his mother was a seamstress. He was raised in a thriving African American community in Florida.

His parents instilled in him a love for equality and freedom. He went to the Cookman Institute along with his brother where he proved to be a brilliant student excelling not only in academics, but also in sports, drama and music. He graduated in 1907.

For a while he harbored the dream of becoming an actor given his interest in drama and music. However, after graduation he had to work in a number of petty jobs as it was not possible for him to find meaningful jobs being a black.

He moved to New York City in 1911 where he enrolled at the City College to study English Literature and sociology. He worked at manual jobs during the day and attended classes at night.

He was an avid reader who read the works of social and political thinkers including Karl Marx and W. E. B. Du Bois, and was especially influenced by the latter’s book, ‘The Souls of Black Folk’.

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Later Years

He became acquainted with a like-minded person, Chandler Owen, a Columbia University law student, with whom he founded an employment agency called the Brotherhood of Labor in 1912 in an attempt to organize black workers.

Along with Owen he also founded a magazine, ‘The Messenger’ in 1917 after United States entered the World War I. Through this magazine which was started with the help of the Socialist Party of America, he called for more positions in the armed forces for blacks and also demanded higher wages for them.

After the war ended, he lectured at the Rand School of Social Science in New York. He also worked towards unionizing the black workers as he believed that unions were the best way for blacks to improve their condition.

He was made the president of the National Brotherhood of Workers of America in 1919. It was a union which was organized by the African American shipyard and dock workers in the Tidewater region of Virginia. The union, however, had to be dissolved in 1921 due to the pressure of the American Federation of Labor.

He founded and presided over The Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters (BSCP) in 1925. Through his works with the first predominantly black labor union, he became one of the leaders in the civil rights movement in America.

Along with Bayard Rustin he led the March on Washington Movement (MOWM), (1941–1946). Though the movement did not lead to any actual march during that period, it convinced President Franklin D. Roosevelt to ban discrimination in the defense industries during World War II.

In 1963, he headed The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom at which Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his "I Have A Dream" speech.

Major Works

He led the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963 which was one of the largest political rallies for human rights in the United States history. Thousands of Americans, most of them blacks, participated in the march which ultimately led to the passage of the Civil Rights Act in 1964.

Awards & Achievements

He was awarded the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Spingarn Medal in 1942.

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President Lyndon B. Johnson presented Randolph with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in September 1964.

He was named Humanist of the Year in 1970 by the American Humanist Association.

Personal Life & legacy

He met Lucille Campbell Green, a widow, who was a Howard University graduate with a keen interest in socialist politics. They got married in 1913. His wife was supportive of his activism and earned enough money to support them both, leaving him with ample time to devote to his socialist activities. They did not have any children.

He died on May 16, 1979 at the ripe old age of 90.

The A. Philip Randolph Career Academy in Philadelphia, and the A. Philip Randolph Career and Technician Center in Detroit are named in his honor.

Facts About A. Philip Randolph

Philip Randolph was a skilled actor and performed in several plays during his youth, showcasing his talent for the arts in addition to his activism.

He was a proud supporter of the labor movement and worked tirelessly to improve working conditions for African American workers, earning him the nickname "The Great Emancipator."

Randolph was a strong advocate for civil rights and played a key role in organizing the famous March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963, where Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his iconic "I Have a Dream" speech.

He founded the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, the first predominantly African American labor union to receive a charter from the American Federation of Labor, paving the way for greater equality in the labor movement.

In recognition of his lifelong dedication to social justice and equality, A. Philip Randolph was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States, by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964.

A. Philip Randolph Biography

You wanted to know

What was A. Philip Randolph's role in the civil rights movement?

What impact did A. Philip Randolph have on the labor movement?

How did A. Philip Randolph contribute to the desegregation of the military?

What was the significance of A. Philip Randolph's role in the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom?

How did A. Philip Randolph's activism influence future civil rights leaders?