Norman Hill facts for kids

Norman Hill was born on April 22, 1933, in Summit, New Jersey. He is an important American leader who has worked for civil rights and fair treatment for workers. He went to Haverford College in Pennsylvania and earned a degree in sociology in 1956. Sociology is the study of how people live together in groups and societies. Norman Hill was one of the first African Americans to graduate from Haverford College.

After college, he served in the military. When he returned, he moved to Chicago to join the Civil Rights Movement. This movement worked to end unfair treatment and segregation against African Americans. Norman Hill became a key organizer in Chicago. He helped with many projects, like the Youth March for Integrated Schools. He also served as Secretary of the Chicago Area Negro American Labor Council.

Working for Civil Rights

Norman Hill joined the Congress of Racial Equality, known as CORE. This group was very active in the Civil Rights Movement. He started as an East Coast Field Secretary. Later, he became the National Program Director. In this role, he helped organize important events. He coordinated the desegregation of restaurants along Route 40. Desegregation meant ending the separation of people based on their race. He also helped with a civil rights protest at the 1964 Republican National Convention.

Fighting for Workers' Rights

From 1964 to 1967, Norman Hill worked for the Industrial Union Department of the AFL-CIO. This is a large group of labor unions that helps workers. He worked to raise the minimum wage, which is the lowest amount of money workers can be paid. He also helped lead a group of labor leaders on the Selma to Montgomery marches. These marches were important protests against unfair rules that stopped African Americans from voting in the Southern United States.

Leading the A. Philip Randolph Institute

In 1967, Norman Hill became very involved with the A. Philip Randolph Institute. This organization works to connect the Civil Rights Movement with the labor movement. He started as an Associate Director. Over time, he became the Executive Director and then the President.

In 1968, after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., Norman Hill helped organize the Memphis March. This march was a tribute to Dr. King and continued his work for justice. During his time at the A. Philip Randolph Institute, Norman Hill helped create more than 200 local chapters of the organization across the United States. These chapters helped spread the message of civil rights and workers' rights to many communities.

Norman Hill's Role in "Burn!"

In 1969, Norman Hill had a main role in a movie called Burn!. The movie starred Marlon Brando. It was about a secret agent who tries to cause a slave revolt on a fictional island colony.