A. Philip Randolph
A. Philip Randolph
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Full Name and Common Aliases
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Asa Philip Randolph was commonly known as A. Philip Randolph.
Birth and Death Dates
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Born: April 15, 1889
Died: May 16, 1979
Nationality and Profession(s)
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Randolph was an American civil rights leader, union organizer, and activist who fought for racial equality through the labor movement.
Early Life and Background
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Born in Crescent City, Florida, Randolph grew up in a family of modest means. His early life was marked by the harsh realities of racism in the United States during the late 19th century. After graduating from high school, he worked as a Pullman porter on trains, an occupation that exposed him to the cruel treatment faced by African Americans working in the service industry.
Randolph's experiences sparked his passion for activism and social change. He was influenced by the writings of W.E.B. Du Bois and the work of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). In 1911, Randolph moved to New York City to attend college but dropped out due to financial constraints.
Major Accomplishments
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Randolph's commitment to civil rights led him to play a key role in several significant events:
March on Washington Movement: In the early 1940s, Randolph organized protests against racial inequality in the military and the job market. The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, held in 1963, was a pivotal moment in American history, where Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his iconic "I Have a Dream" speech.
Fair Employment Practices Committee: As chairman of the committee established by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Randolph fought tirelessly to eliminate racial discrimination in hiring practices.
NAACP Leadership: Randolph served as the president of the New York chapter of the NAACP and was instrumental in expanding its influence nationwide.Notable Works or Actions
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Randolph's advocacy extended beyond formal organizations:
He played a crucial role in the formation of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) and other civil rights groups.
Randolph used his platform as a union organizer to challenge segregation on public transportation, restaurants, and hotels.Impact and Legacy
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Randolph's tireless efforts had far-reaching consequences:
He paved the way for landmark legislation such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
His influence can be seen in the work of subsequent civil rights leaders, including Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks.Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
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Randolph's powerful speeches, writings, and activism have left a lasting impact on American society:
He was a pioneer in using nonviolent direct action to challenge unjust laws and policies.
* Randolph's commitment to social justice inspired generations of activists and continues to inspire new movements today.
As a champion of racial equality and labor rights, A. Philip Randolph remains an important figure in the ongoing struggle for human rights and dignity. His legacy serves as a powerful reminder of the impact one person can have on shaping history.
Quotes by A. Philip Randolph
Lincoln was the spokesman of the rising capitalist class of the North, who viewed the emancipation of Negro slaves as indispensable to the development and triumph of the manufacturers and bankers of the industrial North, East and West over the slave-holder of the South.
Debs is greater than Lincoln. Debs is the spokesman of the great struggling working class of all races, nationalities, creeds, sexes.
Since almost all Negroes are workers, live on wages, and suffer from the high cost of food, clothing and shelter, it is obvious that the Republican and Democratic Parties are opposed to their interests.
We seek the right to play our part in advancing the cause of national defense and national unity. But certainly, there can be no true national unity where one-tenth of the population is denied their basic rights as American citizens.
I have an inner satisfaction of having done what I thought was right at the time which I thought was propitious.
Lincoln merely nominally freed the bodies of Negroes. But Debs would free the bodies and minds of Negroes.
The Negro was a political football between his former slave master and Northern political adventurers. The economic basis of this contest was the power to tax, to float bonds, to award franchise: in short, to gain control over the financial resources of the newly organized States.
If we have white persons in the March, we are certain to have trouble with the Communists, and it may not be viewed as a true expression of the Negro's protest.
I don't ever remember a single day of hopelessness. I knew from the history of the labor movement, especially of the black people, that it was an undertaking of great trial. That, live or die, I had to stick with it, and we had to win.
If someone tried to deprive you of your rights, you've got to resist it. You've got to resent it. You've got to fight against it.