Joseph Ellwanger facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joseph Ellwanger
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Ellwanger in 2011
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| Personal details | |
| Born | February 18, 1934 Selma, Alabama, U.S. |
| Spouse | Joyce |
| Residences | Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Concordia Seminary |
| Occupation | Pastor, Civil Rights Activist |
| Awards include the Human Rights Award from the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute | |
Joseph W. Ellwanger Jr. (born February 18, 1934) is a Lutheran pastor and a leader in the Civil Rights Movement. He played a very important role in the fight for equal rights in Birmingham, Alabama. He was also the only white religious leader who joined strategy meetings with Martin Luther King Jr..
Contents
Joseph Ellwanger's Early Life and Education
Joseph Ellwanger was born in 1934. He spent some of his childhood in Selma, Alabama. His father was also a pastor there. His father was also the president of a school called Alabama Lutheran Academy and College.
Ellwanger later studied at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. He graduated from there, preparing him for his life as a pastor.
Ellwanger's Work in the Civil Rights Movement
From 1958 to 1967, Ellwanger was a pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Birmingham. This church was mainly attended by African American people. During this time, he started working closely with Martin Luther King Jr.
Helping with Voting Rights
Ellwanger answered a call from Dr. King and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. They asked for help to bring students and clergy (religious leaders) to Selma. The goal was to join the historic march for voting rights. This march went from Selma to Montgomery, the state capital.
Ellwanger took part in large community meetings. He also got members of his church involved in Civil Rights activities. He became a leader in organizing the community. He helped Dr. King and others plan the demonstrations in Birmingham. He also helped organize a march in Selma on March 6, 1965, to support voting rights.
A Unique Role in Birmingham
Ellwanger was the only white minister in Birmingham who was so active in supporting equal rights for African Americans. He spoke at the funeral for one of the four young girls killed in the terrible 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in September 1963. Dr. King also gave a speech at that funeral.
Dr. King included Ellwanger in a group of 15 pastors. They met with Governor George Wallace to discuss civil rights. Ellwanger also met with President Lyndon B. Johnson. He spoke to the President to show his support for the Voting Rights Act of 1965. This law helped protect the right to vote for all citizens.
Later Work in Milwaukee
In 1967, Ellwanger moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He became the pastor of Cross Lutheran Church and served there until 2001. In 1969, he worked with the Black Panther Party. They worked together to expand a free breakfast program for children in Milwaukee.
In 1970, Ellwanger started a special program called "Project RETURN." This program helps people who have been in prison. It helps them get back on their feet and live successfully in the community.
After retiring from Cross Lutheran, Ellwanger continued his work for social justice. For ten years, he was a community organizer for WISDOM. This is a group of social justice organizations across Wisconsin. He also started WISDOM's "Reform Our Communities (ROC) Campaign." This campaign works to improve Wisconsin's justice system.
Awards and Recognition
In 2008, Ellwanger received the Fred L. Shuttlesworth Human Rights Award. This is the highest honor given by the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute.
In 2016, he received the Social Innovation Prize from Interfaith Older Adult Programs. This award included $10,000. He used this money to continue his important work to end mass incarceration in Wisconsin.
Books Featuring Joseph Ellwanger
Joseph Ellwanger's story has been shared in several books. These include:
- King: A Biography by David Levering Lewis
- Eyes on the Prize: America's Civil Rights Years, 1954-1965 by Juan Williams
- Kids in Birmingham 1963
- On the Road to Freedom: A Guided Tour of the Civil Rights Trail by Charles E. Cobb Jr
