A. Philip Randolph

About

A. Philip Randolph was a pivotal figure in American history, known for his tireless efforts in labor rights and civil rights activism. Born on April 15, 1889, in Crescent City, Florida, Randolph grew up amidst the Jim Crow era and later moved to Harlem, New York. He co-founded The Messenger, a socialist magazine advocating for African American rights. In 1925, Randolph led the formation of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters (BSCP), the first predominantly African American labor union to gain a charter from the American Federation of Labor. Randolph's activism extended beyond labor rights; he was a key organizer of significant civil rights marches. In 1941, he threatened a march on Washington to end discrimination in the defense industry, prompting President Franklin D. Roosevelt to issue Executive Order 8802. Randolph also played a crucial role in the 1963 March on Washington, where Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech. He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1964 for his contributions. Randolph's legacy continues through the A. Philip Randolph Institute, which promotes trade unionism in the African American community. He passed away on May 16, 1979.