Abraham Woods facts for kids
Abraham Lincoln Wood Jr. (born October 7, 1928 – died November 7, 2008) was an important American civil rights leader. He helped organize the big 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. He also stood right behind Martin Luther King Jr. when Dr. King gave his famous "I Have a Dream" speech.
Growing Up and Learning
Abraham Woods Jr. was born in Birmingham, Alabama, on October 7, 1928. He was one of 11 children. His parents were Rev. Abraham Woods Sr. and Maggie Wallace. He went to Morehouse College with Martin Luther King Jr. Later, he earned several college degrees. He studied theology at Birmingham Baptist College. He also got a bachelor's degree in sociology from Miles College. Then, he earned a master's degree in American history from the University of Alabama.
Working for Civil Rights
In the early 1960s, Woods was a pastor at First Metropolitan Baptist Church. From 1967, he led the St. Joseph Baptist Church as its pastor.
Woods was also the president of the Birmingham chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). This group worked for equal rights for all people. He often led marches in his community. These protests were against violence, police shootings, and bad landlords.
Woods was a key organizer for the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. This was a huge event where about 250,000 people gathered. He stood behind Martin Luther King Jr. when Dr. King gave his "I Have a Dream" speech. This famous speech happened on August 28, 1963, at the Lincoln Memorial.
Just over two weeks after Dr. King's speech, a terrible event happened. The 16th Street Baptist Church bombing killed four young girls. Rev. Woods was there minutes after the explosion. He worked hard to make sure those responsible were caught. His efforts helped lead to new investigations. This led to two more members of the Ku Klux Klan being found guilty for the murders.
Later Years and Legacy
Woods continued to fight for fairness. He helped bring attention to segregation at country clubs. In 1990, he protested that the PGA Championship golf tournament was going to be played at the Shoal Creek Golf and Country Club. At that time, the club did not allow Black members. The PGA and the club worked out a solution. After this, rules were changed. Now, clubs that host major golf events must have inclusive membership policies.
In 1997, Woods was invited to a Promise Keepers event. He wasn't sure about going at first. He thought it was mainly for white men. But he went and was impressed by how many Black leaders were part of the group.
At a news conference in 2004, Woods spoke about protesting an unfair police shooting. He said some people called him a "troublemaker" or an "agitator" in Birmingham. But he didn't mind. He explained that an agitator helps get things clean, like in a washing machine. He meant that he helped clean up unfair situations.
Abraham Woods Jr. passed away on November 7, 2008, at age 80. He had been battling cancer for several years. He is buried in Elmwood Cemetery.
