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Who Was A. Philip Randolph?
A. Philip Randolph was a prominent labor leader and social activist whose contributions significantly shaped the labor movement and civil rights advocacy in the United States. During World War I, Randolph endeavored to unionize African American shipyard workers and elevator operators and co-founded a magazine aimed at advocating for higher wages. His pioneering efforts led to the establishment of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, the first officially recognized African American labor union, in 1925.
By the 1940s, Randolph’s organizing prowess had become instrumental in combating racial discrimination in government defense factories and in desegregating the armed forces, achievements that were secured through presidential directives. His commitment to civil rights extended to his pivotal role as a principal organizer of the 1963 March on Washington, a landmark event in the struggle for racial equality.
Early Life and Background
Asa Philip Randolph was born on April 15, 1889, in Crescent City, Florida. He was the second son of James Randolph, a Methodist minister, and his wife, Elizabeth. Both parents were committed advocates for equal rights for African Americans and broader human rights. In 1891, the Randolph family relocated to Jacksonville, Florida, where Randolph spent the majority of his formative years. It was in Jacksonville that he attended the Cookman Institute, an early institution of higher education dedicated to Black students.
Labor Organizer
In 1911, after graduating from Cookman, A. Philip Randolph relocated to Harlem, New York City, with aspirations of pursuing an acting career. During this period, he engaged in studies of English literature and sociology at City College, held various jobs including as an elevator operator, porter, and waiter, and honed his rhetorical skills. In 1912, Randolph took a significant step in his political journey by co-founding the Brotherhood of Labor with Chandler Owen, a Columbia University law student who shared Randolph’s socialist ideals. This employment agency aimed to organize Black workers and advocate for their rights. His commitment to worker advocacy was evident from his early efforts, such as organizing a rally to protest poor living conditions while working as a waiter on a coastal steamship.
In 1913, Randolph married Lucille Green, an intellectual and entrepreneur who had graduated from Howard University. Shortly thereafter, he founded Ye Friends of Shakespeare, a drama society in Harlem where he played several roles in their productions.
During World War I, in 1917, Randolph and Owen launched The Messenger, a political magazine that addressed issues such as the need for increased inclusion of Black individuals in the military and war industries and advocated for higher wages. Randolph also attempted to unionize African American shipyard workers in Virginia and elevator operators in New York City during this period.
Following the war, Randolph served as a lecturer at the Rand School of Social Science. In the early 1920s, he made unsuccessful bids for political office in New York State on the Socialist Party ticket. Despite these setbacks, Randolph’s conviction in the power of unions as a means for African Americans to achieve social and economic advancement grew stronger.
Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters
In 1925, A. Philip Randolph founded the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters (BSCP), serving as its president. His primary objective was to secure the union’s official recognition by the American Federation of Labor (AFL), an organization that, at the time, often excluded African Americans from membership. The BSCP faced considerable opposition, particularly from the Pullman Company, the largest employer of Black workers at that time. Despite these challenges, Randolph persevered, and in 1937, the BSCP achieved AFL affiliation, becoming the first African American union in the United States. However, Randolph withdrew the BSCP from the AFL in 1938 in protest of the continuing discrimination within the organization and subsequently redirected his efforts toward addressing issues with the federal government.
Mass Protest Against Federal Policies
In the 1940s, A. Philip Randolph strategically employed mass protests to exert influence over federal policies. Following the United States’ entry into World War II, Randolph orchestrated a planned march on Washington to challenge racial discrimination within the war industry workforce. This protest was averted when President Franklin D. Roosevelt responded with an executive order prohibiting racial discrimination in government defense factories and establishing the inaugural Fair Employment Practices Committee.
Post-World War II, Randolph renewed his efforts to confront federal policies by founding the League for Nonviolent Civil Disobedience Against Military Segregation. The activism of this group played a pivotal role in persuading President Harry S. Truman to issue an executive order in 1948, which abolished racial segregation in the U.S. Armed Forces.
Broader Civil Rights Work
In 1955, A. Philip Randolph was appointed as a vice president of the newly merged AFL-CIO (American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations). Despite his elevated position, Randolph continued to challenge the systemic racial biases he encountered within the organization. This led him to establish the Negro American Labor Council in 1959, an initiative that stirred controversy among union leaders, including George Meany. Concurrently, Randolph redirected his focus towards broader civil rights activism. In 1957, he organized a prayer pilgrimage to Washington, D.C. to highlight the slow progress in implementing school desegregation in the South. Additionally, he spearheaded the Youth Marches for Integrated Schools at the end of the decade.
Randolph’s most notable contribution came in 1963 when he played a pivotal role in organizing the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Addressing an integrated crowd of approximately 250,000, Randolph shared the stage with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who delivered his iconic “I Have a Dream” speech. Despite the recent loss of his wife Lucille, Randolph’s resolve remained steadfast. Following the march, he and King were among a select group of civil rights leaders to meet with President John F. Kennedy, who was contemplating a significant push for civil rights legislation. Randolph urged Kennedy, saying, “It’s going to be a crusade then. And I think that nobody can lead this crusade but you, Mr. President.”
In recognition of his extensive civil rights efforts, Randolph was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964. Shortly thereafter, he founded the A. Philip Randolph Institute, an organization dedicated to investigating the root causes of poverty. Co-founded with his protégé Bayard Rustin, the institute reflected Randolph’s commitment to social justice. In 1965, during a White House conference, Randolph introduced a poverty-elimination initiative known as the “Freedom Budget for All Americans.”
Retirement and Death
In 1968, after a distinguished career spanning over 40 years as president of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, A. Philip Randolph retired due to health issues, including a heart condition and high blood pressure. Following his retirement, Randolph withdrew from public life. A traumatic event—a mugging by three assailants—prompted his relocation from Harlem to New York City’s Chelsea neighborhood. Known for his modesty and lack of interest in material possessions, Randolph dedicated the following years to writing his autobiography. However, his deteriorating health ultimately forced him to cease this endeavor.
A. Philip Randolph passed away in his New York City residence on May 16, 1979, at the age of 90. His remains were cremated, and his ashes were interred at the A. Philip Randolph Institute in Washington, D.C.