Milton Galamison facts for kids

Milton Arthur Galamison (March 25, 1923 – March 9, 1988) was a Presbyterian minister who lived and worked in Brooklyn, New York.

He was a strong community activist. He worked hard to make schools integrated (meaning students of all races could attend together). He also pushed for education reform, which means making schools better. He even organized two big school boycotts to make his voice heard.

Milton Galamison's Early Life and Education

Growing Up in Philadelphia

Milton Arthur Galamison was born in Philadelphia. When he was young, he faced poverty (not having much money) and racism. This meant he experienced unfair treatment because of his race.

Black churches in Philadelphia offered many activities. These included cultural, social, and educational events. Milton found these very helpful, as he couldn't find them elsewhere. He was very active in church youth groups.

He became a helper for Reverend Thomas Logan. He even wrote articles for him in Philadelphia Tribune. People who knew Milton thought he was smart and confident. He was also very determined to succeed.

School and College Years

Milton didn't get very good grades in his vocational school. He graduated from Overbrook High School in 1940. His diploma was not for college preparation. He soon realized that becoming a minister was his best path to success.

He was accepted at St. Augustine's College in Raleigh, North Carolina. This was a college for Black students. It aimed to help students become leaders for social change.

Later, he went to Lincoln University in Pennsylvania. He graduated with honors in 1945. He then earned his Bachelor of Divinity degree from there in 1947. He continued his studies at Princeton Theological Seminary. He earned a Master of Theology degree in 1949. In 1961, he received a Doctor of Divinity degree from Lincoln University.

Milton Galamison's Ministry Work

Becoming a Minister

In 1947, Milton Galamison officially became a minister in the Presbyterian Church. He was first assigned to the Witherspoon Presbyterian Church in Princeton, New Jersey.

In 1948, he was chosen to lead the Siloam Presbyterian Church. This church was in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn. At that time, it was one of the most respected Black Presbyterian churches in the U.S.

Expanding the Church's Role

Milton quickly made the church more involved in the community. He added many services. These included a career guidance center and a mental health clinic. He also started academic tutoring and a credit union. By 1952, Siloam became the second largest Black Presbyterian church in the nation.

As his reputation grew, he appeared on radio and television shows. He also wrote for the religious sermon column in the Amsterdam News. His radio sermons were mostly about faith. But his sermons at Siloam were about social issues. He spoke out against racism and other unfair treatments.

Milton Galamison's Activism for School Change

Fighting for Equal Education

In 1955, Galamison became the head of the education committee for the Brooklyn branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). He worked to improve education for Black and Puerto Rican students.

In 1959, he started The Parents' Workshop for Equality in New York Schools. This group had clear goals. They wanted to achieve racial integration in New York City schools. They also wanted equal education for all children. They aimed to end racial discrimination and improve public schools. The Parents' Workshop started at Siloam Church. It then grew to other parts of New York City.

Organizing School Boycotts

In 1960, Galamison and other members of the Parents' Workshop began to pressure the New York City Board of Education. They wanted the schools to integrate. After years of trying to make changes without success, Galamison organized a new group. It was called the Citywide Committee for Integrated Schools. This group included the Parents' Workshop, the NAACP, the Congress of Racial Equality, and others.

They decided to hold a one-day boycott of New York City public schools. On February 3, 1964, nearly half a million students stayed home from school. This day was called Freedom Day. It was the largest civil rights protest of the 1960s.

After the success of Freedom Day, Galamison planned another boycott for March 16, 1964. However, he lost support from some leaders. Because of this, the second boycott did not get enough public support.

Shift to Community Control

The focus of the education reform movement in New York City changed. It moved from integration to giving local communities more control. In 1967, Galamison started a new group called Citywide Coalition for Community Control.

This group's efforts led to the creation of "demonstration schools." These schools had local boards chosen by the community. These boards made decisions about hiring teachers and what was taught. This change led to some white teachers being dismissed. This caused tension and a citywide strike by New York City teachers in 1968. The strike lasted for 36 days.

In July 1968, Mayor John V. Lindsay appointed Galamison to the Board of Education. This appointment showed how important he had become. However, it also marked a shift in the movement he led. After he did not win reelection to the School Board in 1969, Galamison stepped back from politics.

During his years as an activist, Galamison was arrested nine times for his peaceful protests.

Milton Galamison's Later Life

Besides his work for education reform, Galamison also started a vocational school in Brooklyn in 1967. It was called Opportunities Industrialization Center. He also wrote articles for magazines like Freedomways and for religious journals.

Milton Galamison continued to be the pastor at Siloam Church until he passed away in 1988. He died after a short illness.