William Barber II facts for kids
Quick facts for kids William Barber II |
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| Personal details | |
| Birth name | William Joseph Barber II |
| Born | August 30, 1963 Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. |
| Denomination | Disciples of Christ |
| Spouse | Rebecca McLean |
| Occupation | minister, activist, academic |
| Education | North Carolina Central University (BA) Duke University (MDiv) Drew University (DMin) |
William J. Barber II (born August 30, 1963) is an American Protestant minister, a leader who speaks out for social justice, and a professor. He teaches about how faith and public policy connect at Yale Divinity School. He is also the head of an organization called Repairers of the Breach. He helps lead the Poor People's Campaign: A National Call for a Moral Revival, which works to help people in need.
Mr. Barber is also on the national board of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). This group works for equal rights for all people. From 2006 to 2017, he was the president of the NAACP in North Carolina. This was the biggest NAACP chapter in the southern United States. He was also a pastor at Greenleaf Christian Church in Goldsboro, North Carolina, for many years.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Growing Up and Learning
William Barber II was born in Indianapolis. His parents, Eleanor and William J. Barber, Sr., moved their family to Washington County, North Carolina. They wanted to help with the effort to end segregation in public schools. Segregation meant that Black and white students went to separate schools. His mother worked as a secretary, and his father was a physics teacher. Young William started kindergarten there.
When he was 15, William was chosen to be the president of his local NAACP youth group. At 17, he became the student body president of his high school. He was the first president to lead the newly integrated school for a whole year.
College and Beyond
After high school, he went to North Carolina Central University (NCCU). At 19, he became the student government president there. He earned his bachelor's degree in political science from NCCU in 1985. He then went on to get a Master of Divinity degree from Duke University in 1989. Later, he earned a doctorate from Drew University in 2003. His studies focused on public policy and how to care for people in a religious setting.
In 1984, he met Rebecca McLean at NCCU during a march for Jesse Jackson's presidential campaign. They got married three years later.
Facing Challenges
When he was in his early 20s, Mr. Barber was diagnosed with a health condition called ankylosing spondylitis. This condition affects his spine and can make it hard for him to move easily. In December 2023, he had an experience at a movie theater where he needed help because of his condition. The theater later apologized for the misunderstanding.
Standing Up for Change
Leading Protests
Starting in April 2013, William Barber II led protests called "Moral Mondays" in Raleigh, the state capital. These protests focused on civil rights and other important issues. He helped bring together many different groups to work for change. One newspaper said he was "the most important progressive political leader" in North Carolina in a long time. He helped create a large group of 93 advocacy organizations.
Starting New Groups
In 2014, he started an organization called Repairers of the Breach. This group helps train religious leaders and others to work for policies that benefit everyone. It also teaches people about how faith can connect with social justice.
Speaking Out
In 2016, Mr. Barber gave a powerful speech at the 2016 Democratic National Convention. Many people praised his speech.
In May 2017, he was arrested during a protest at the North Carolina State Legislative Building. He was protesting about health care laws. He and other protesters were later told they could not enter the building. Mr. Barber believes that citizens have a right to gather and talk with their lawmakers.
In May 2017, Mr. Barber announced he would leave his role as the North Carolina NAACP president. He wanted to lead a new "Poor People's Campaign". This campaign is named after the original one started by Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968. It works to help people who are struggling with poverty.
In July 2021, Mr. Barber called for peaceful protests to highlight threats to democracy in the U.S. He was arrested with many others in Washington, D.C., during a protest for voting rights and better wages.
Awards and Honors
William Barber II has received many awards for his work. In 2006, he won the Juanita Jackson Mitchell, Esq. Award for legal activism. This is the highest award from the NAACP for legal advocacy. He also received the Thalheimer Award in 2008 for having the most effective NAACP State Conference. In 2010, he won the National NAACP Kelly M. Alexander Humanitarian Award.
In 2009, North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue gave him the Order of the Long Leaf Pine. This is a special award for North Carolinians who have done a lot to help their state.
In 2017, his old university, Drew University, gave him an honorary doctorate. This means they recognized his achievements with a special degree. He also received an honorary doctorate from Occidental College.
In 2018, Mr. Barber was named a MacArthur Fellow. This is a very special award given to talented people who are doing important work. He was recognized for bringing together different groups to fight against racial and economic inequality.
