A. Philip Randolph: A Trailblazer For Labor Rights And Civil Rights

A. Philip Randolph, born on April 15, 1889, in Crescent City, Florida, was not just a labor leader but also a formidable social activist whose impact resonates even today. He dedicated his life to advocating for African American workers and civil rights, becoming a pivotal figure in the labor movement during the 20th century. His work laid the groundwork for many labor rights we enjoy today.

Who Was A. Philip Randolph?

A. Philip Randolph was a labor leader and social activist. During World War I, Randolph tried to unionize African American shipyard workers and elevator operators and co-launched a magazine aimed at promoting demand for higher wages. In 1925, he founded the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, which would become the first official African American labor union by 1937. His organizing abilities helped end racial discrimination in government defense factories and desegregate the armed forces through presidential decrees. Randolph was also a principal organizer of the 1963 March on Washington.

Early Life and Background

Randolph was born Asa Philip Randolph to James Randolph, a Methodist minister, and his wife, Elizabeth, both strong supporters of equal rights for African Americans. In 1891, the family moved to Jacksonville, Florida, where Randolph spent most of his youth. He attended the Cookman Institute, one of the earliest higher education institutions for Black people in the U.S.

Labor Organizer

After graduating from Cookman in 1911, Randolph moved to Harlem, New York City, where he contemplated becoming an actor. He studied English literature and sociology at City College while working various jobs, including an elevator operator and a waiter. In 1912, he founded an employment agency called the Brotherhood of Labor with Chandler Owen, aiming to organize Black workers.

In 1913, Randolph married Lucille Green, a Howard University graduate and beauty entrepreneur. He later established a drama society in Harlem known as Ye Friends of Shakespeare. During World War I, he and Owen launched a political magazine called The Messenger, advocating for more Black representation in the armed forces and demanding higher wages.

Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters

In 1925, Randolph founded the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters (BSCP). As its president, he sought official inclusion in the American Federation of Labor (AFL), which often excluded African Americans. The BSCP faced considerable resistance from the Pullman Company, the largest employer of Black people at that time. Eventually, in 1937, the BSCP became the first African American union in the United States.

Mass Protest Against Federal Policies

Randolph utilized mass protests in the 1940s to influence government policies. Following the U.S. entry into World War II, he planned a march on Washington to protest discrimination in the war industry workforce. The march was called off after President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued an executive order banning racial discrimination at defense factories.

After the war, Randolph organized the League for Nonviolent Civil Disobedience Against Military Segregation, which contributed to President Harry S. Truman's 1948 executive order banning racial segregation in the U.S. Armed Forces.

Broader Civil Rights Work

In 1955, Randolph became a vice president of the newly merged AFL-CIO. He continued to challenge systemic racial prejudice within the organization and founded the Negro American Labor Council in 1959. Randolph also organized a prayer pilgrimage to Washington, D.C., in 1957, to highlight delays in school desegregation and led the Youth Marches for Integrated Schools at the end of the decade.

In 1963, Randolph was a principal organizer of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, where he spoke to nearly 250,000 supporters. Despite the recent loss of his wife, he shared the podium with Martin Luther King Jr., who delivered his iconic "I Have a Dream" speech.

Retirement and Death

Randolph resigned as president of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters in 1968 due to health issues. After moving from Harlem to Chelsea, New York City, he spent his remaining years writing his autobiography until his health deteriorated. He passed away on May 16, 1979, at the age of 90, and was cremated, with his ashes interred at the A. Philip Randolph Institute in Washington, D.C.

Key Takeaways