100 Years Young: Celebrating the 100th Birthday of Whitney M. Young Jr.

This month, we are celebrating the life + achievements of Whitney M. Young Jr. to commemorate his 100th birthday on July 31, 2021.

The Big Six

Whitney M. Young Jr. was a member of the group of prominent Civil Rights leaders known as The Big Six, along with:
▪️Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
▪️James Farmer
▪️John Lewis
▪️A. Philip Randolph
▪️Roy Wilkins

These heads of revered civil rights organizations helped lead the March on Washington in 1963.

In his speech on the March on Washington, Young explains why we march and must continue to march forward for civil rights:

“And so this march must go beyond this historic moment. … We must work together even more closely back home where the job must be done to see that Negro Americans are accepted as first-class citizens and that they are enabled to do some more marching.”

It was under the leadership of Young that the National Urban League transformed from an organization focused on obtaining workers’ rights to one centered on all civil rights.

National Urban League

Whitney M. Young Jr. is nationally recognized for being a transformative + servant leader during his lifetime. He was appointed to serve as executive director of the National Urban League in 1961.

During this time, the nation saw the height of the Civil Rights Movement. In southern states, many Black Americans were denied the right to vote, barred from public facilities, subjected to insults and violence, and could not expect justice from the courts. In northern states, Black Americans were faced with discrimination in areas such as employment, education, housing among others.

Young fundamentally transformed the National Urban League during a period of unrest across the country by helping to expand our reach nationwide from 60 to 98 chapters. Additionally, he helped to widen the focus of our mission to the needs of the urban underserved. Within his first year as executive director, he increased the annual income of the organization from $340,000 to $670,000. Then, from 1962 to 1972, that figure went from $670,000 to $18,380,000.

He was known for persuading corporate America and major foundations to aid the Civil Rights Movement through financial contributions in support of self-help programs for jobs, housing, education and family rehabilitation.

U.S. Presidents

Whitney M. Young Jr. knew that he didn’t need to be the loudest in a room to get heard. When it comes to matters of civil rights and the Black community’s needs, presidents of the time — including John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson and Richard Nixon — turned to Whitney M. Young Jr. as a trusted advisor.

He helped push the Domestic Marshall Plan, which President Johnson incorporated in his Great Society Program in 1969, and is credited as the co-author of Johnson’s War on Poverty. His 10-point plan was designed to help close the racial wealth gap and help increase economic wealth in the Black community.

Despite President Nixon’s hostility towards the civil rights movement, Young was particularly adept at influencing the minds of the most powerful and finessed a policy from the administration that allowed established Black agencies in the country’s inner cities to administer federal aid.

In 1969, he received the highest award given to our nation’s civilians, the Presidential Medal of Honor.

Lagos, Nigeria, March 1971

The untimely death of Whitney M. Young Jr. shook the nation. Young, a well-known civil rights leader was visiting Lagos, Nigeria when tragedy struck.

At the time of his death in March of 1971, Young was attending a conference sponsored by the Ford Foundation geared towards enhancing race relations across the nation.

Young spent the majority of his life as a pioneer who spearheaded and advocated for the advancement and equal opportunity of Black Americans. With a background in social work, Young used his experience to bridge the gap between corporate giants and major foundations to assist with funding programs for jobs, housing, education and family rehabilitation to aid the Civil Rights Movement.

Years after his death, Young’s achievements still live on today and have a significant and unmistakable impact on Black + Brown communities.

Whitney M. Young’s 100th birthday is on July 31! Follow along as we highlight the many ways he shaped the ongoing fight for justice. Share your thoughts + stories using #100YearsYoung on social media.