Stanley Levison facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Stanley David Levison
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| Born | May 2, 1912 |
| Died | September 12, 1979 (aged 67) |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | St. John's University University of Michigan |
| Occupation | Businessman, lawyer |
| Known for | March on Washington Poor People's Campaign |
| Spouse(s) | Beatrice Merkin Levison |
| Children | Andrew Levison |
| Parent(s) | Harry Dudley Levison Esther Kirstein Levison |
Stanley David Levison (born May 2, 1912 – died September 12, 1979) was an American businessman and lawyer. He spent his life working for causes that aimed to make society better. He is best known as a close friend and helper to Martin Luther King Jr.. Stanley Levison helped Dr. King write speeches, raise money, and organize important events.
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Early Life
Stanley Levison was born in New York City on May 2, 1912. He came from a Jewish family. He studied at several universities, including the University of Michigan and Columbia University. He earned two law degrees from St. John's University. During this time, he supported many liberal causes. He also helped with a famous court case while working for the American Jewish Congress.
Working for Change
Helping the Civil Rights Movement
Levison played a key role in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). This group was started by Dr. King and other Black leaders. They worked to gain equal rights for all people. Levison met Dr. King in New York City in 1956. He was introduced by Bayard Rustin, a Quaker.
Dr. King offered to pay Levison for his help. But Levison always said no. He believed that working for freedom was the most rewarding thing he could do. Levison helped the SCLC raise money in a professional way. He also handled many of their public relations tasks. He was Dr. King's literary agent and a trusted advisor.
Levison also helped write some of Dr. King's speeches. He worked with Clarence B. Jones on a draft for the famous "I Have a Dream" speech. This speech was given at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963.
In 1963, Levison decided to step back from public work with Dr. King. This happened after the government pressured Dr. King to end his public ties with Levison. However, Levison continued to advise Dr. King in private. He did this until Dr. King's death in April 1968. After that, Levison kept working with Dr. King's wife, Coretta Scott King. The Poor People's Campaign in Washington, D.C. in 1968 was based on an idea from Levison.
Andrew Young, a civil rights leader, said that Levison was one of Dr. King's closest friends. He called Levison "perhaps the most important" unknown supporter of the movement. Coretta Scott King also said Levison was a loyal friend and trusted advisor. She said he continued to help her work at the King Center for Nonviolent Social Change.
Watched by the FBI
In the early 1950s, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) watched Levison closely. They thought he was helping to manage money for the Communist Party USA. The FBI used informants to monitor his activities. According to the FBI, Levison's activities with the Communist Party ended in 1957. In 1978, Levison stated that he was never a member of the Communist Party.
The FBI questioned him twice in 1960. In 1962, he was asked to testify before a Senate committee. Parts of his testimony are still secret today. Even though there was no proof Levison still had ties to the Communist Party, the FBI used his past to justify watching Dr. King. They listened to phone calls and placed hidden microphones in Dr. King's offices and hotel rooms.
FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover believed that Levison was teaching Dr. King ideas that could cause trouble in the United States. He thought Dr. King was part of a plan to disrupt the country.
Later Life and Death
Stanley Levison passed away in 1979. He had been ill with cancer and diabetes.
His Impact
Stanley Levison's important role as an advisor and friend to Dr. King has been shown in several films.
- He was played by Steven Hill in the 1978 TV show King.
- Larry Keith played him in the 1983 TV show Kennedy.
- Bruce Nozick played him in the 2016 TV movie All the Way.
Levison's work with Dr. King was also featured in the 2021 documentary film MLK/FBI. This film was directed by Sam Pollard. It uses declassified FBI files and old recordings. NPR said that Levison's connection to Dr. King was what first caught the FBI's attention. The New Yorker review also noted the FBI's interest in Levison. It mentioned his past sympathies and support for a famous court case. Because of these links, the Attorney General approved the wiretapping of Dr. King.
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Stanley Levison
