Curtis Muhammad facts for kids

Curtis Muhammad (1943-2022) was an American civil rights activist. He was born as Curtis Hayes in Independence, Louisiana. Muhammad worked as an organizer for the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) from 1961 to 1968. After that, he continued his work with other groups fighting for civil rights.

Early Life and Challenges

Curtis Muhammad was born in 1943 in Independence, Louisiana. He grew up in a community called Chisholm Mission, near Summit, Mississippi. When he was a child, Curtis had an accident. He didn't get proper medical care, which caused him pain throughout his life.

His family faced many dangers from the Ku Klux Klan, a violent group. Sadly, one of his cousins was killed by this group. His father, Johnny Williams, worked at a newspaper. After a dangerous encounter with Klan members, Johnny had to move away to Chicago for safety. To protect young Curtis, his grandmother temporarily changed his last name to Leroy. Because of these events, Curtis was 18 years old when he finally met his father.

Curtis graduated from Eva H. Harris School in May 1961. He earned a scholarship to Jackson State University. In the summer of 1961, he saw two Freedom Riders being arrested on a bus trip. This event made him very interested in the civil rights movement.

Fighting for Civil Rights

Curtis Muhammad's journey as an activist began in July 1961. He and his friend Hollis Watkins went to a meeting of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee in McComb, Mississippi. There, they met Bob Moses, a leader from SNCC.

Inspired by the SNCC's workshops on nonviolence, Curtis and Hollis decided to take action. They held a sit-in at a local Woolworth store. A sit-in is a peaceful protest where people sit down and refuse to leave. This led to Curtis's first arrest.

After he was released, Curtis helped raise money for the movement. He also returned to McComb to support students at Burglund High School. These students walked out of school to protest unfair treatment. Many students and activists, including Curtis, Hollis Watkins, and Bob Moses, were beaten and arrested. Because of this violence, local leaders asked the activists to leave town.

Curtis and Hollis then joined SNCC as full-time organizers. In February 1962, they moved to Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Their goal was to start a campaign to help Black citizens register to vote. This was important for the upcoming 1963 Mississippi election.

Curtis was arrested again on election day. He tried to monitor a polling place in Ruleville, Mississippi. The mayor, who opposed civil rights, had him arrested. Curtis was sentenced to 30 days in jail for trying to help with the election.

In 1963, Curtis went to Washington D.C. for the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. This was a huge gathering for civil rights. Instead of joining the main march, he and Hollis Watkins protested in front of the Department of Justice.

In July 1964, Curtis was hurt when Klan members attacked a building called the McComb Freedom House where he was sleeping. Soon after, he traveled to Africa for the first time.

Later Activism and Legacy

Curtis Muhammad left SNCC in 1968, but he never stopped fighting for civil rights. He protested against racism in Chicago. He also opened a bookstore in Washington D.C. that focused on activism.

In the 1970s, government programs like the COINTELPRO by the FBI watched activists closely. Because of this, Curtis changed his name to Curtis Muhammad. Later, he moved to New Orleans. There, he worked to help workers organize and improve their rights.

In 1994, Curtis Muhammad appeared in a documentary film called Freedom on My Mind. This film was about the civil rights movement.

After Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005, Curtis founded two groups. These were the People's Fund and the People's Organizing Committee. They helped New Orleans residents recover from the storm.

Personal Life

Curtis Muhammad was married several times and had 10 children. These include Abdullah, Ishmael, Sanovia (who passed away), Ivory, Saad, Llena Chavis, Jabari, Musa, Afrika Williams, and actor Curtis Williams.