Randolph Blackwell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Randolph Blackwell
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Randolph Blackwell - Former Director (1977 – 1979) of the Minority Business Development Agency.
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| Born | March 10, 1927 Greensboro, North Carolina
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| Died | May 21, 1981 (aged 54) |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Director of the Office of Minority Business Enterprise |
| Known for | Veteran of the Civil Rights Movement |
| Spouse(s) | Elizabeth Knox Blackwell |
| Children | 1 |
Randolph T. Blackwell (born March 10, 1927, died May 21, 1981) was an important leader in the Civil Rights Movement. This movement worked to end unfair treatment and segregation against African Americans in the United States. Blackwell worked with many groups, including Martin Luther King Jr.'s Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Coretta Scott King, Martin Luther King Jr.'s wife, called him an "unsung giant." This means he was a very important person who did great things, but didn't always get the recognition he deserved.
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Early Life and Education
Randolph Blackwell was born in Greensboro, North Carolina. His father was involved with the United Negro Improvement Association. This group worked to improve the lives of Black people. Young Randolph sometimes went to meetings with his father.
In 1943, when he was 16, Randolph was inspired by a speech from Ella Baker. She was another important civil rights leader. After hearing her speak, he started a youth group for the NAACP in Greensboro. The NAACP is one of the oldest and most respected civil rights organizations in the U.S.
Blackwell studied sociology at North Carolina A & T University. He graduated in 1949. Later, he earned a law degree from Howard University in 1953. He then became a teacher, first at Winston-Salem Teacher’s College and then at Alabama A & M College. He taught government at Alabama A & M.
Leading Civil Rights Efforts
While teaching at Alabama A & M, Blackwell became a leader in the Civil Rights Movement. In 1962, he helped organize student sit-ins in Huntsville, Alabama. Sit-ins were a peaceful way to protest segregation. People would sit at segregated lunch counters or other places and refuse to leave until they were served.
In 1963, Blackwell left teaching to work full-time for civil rights. He joined the Voter Education Project. This group helped Black people in the South register to vote. At that time, many Black citizens were prevented from voting.
Facing Danger for Voting Rights
In March 1963, Blackwell was in Greenwood, Mississippi. He was trying to help Black people register to vote with other activists like Bob Moses. Their car was shot at during this important work. Blackwell and Moses were not hurt, but another activist, Jimmy Travis, was injured. This shooting brought a lot of attention to the fight for civil rights across the country. It also pushed the government to investigate the problems in the South.
Blackwell became a program director for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in 1964. This was a major civil rights organization led by Martin Luther King Jr. Later, he became the director of Southern Rural Action. This organization worked to fight poverty in the southern United States.
Government Service and Awards
From 1977 to 1979, during President Jimmy Carter's time in office, Randolph Blackwell worked for the government. He was the director of the Office of Minority Business Enterprise. This office was part of the U.S. Department of Commerce. It helped support businesses owned by minority groups.
Blackwell received important awards for his work. In 1976, the King Center for Nonviolent Social Change gave him the Martin Luther King Jr. Nonviolent Peace Prize. In 1978, the National Bar Association honored him with their Equal Justice Award. These awards recognized his dedication to peace and fairness for all people.
Images for kids
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Randolph Blackwell - Former Director (1977 – 1979) of the Minority Business Development Agency.
