Ralph David Abernathy

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To begin with, Ralph David Abernathy was born on March 11, 1926 in Lindin, Alabama, USA on his family’s farm. “I don’t know what the future may hold, but I know who holds the future.” ~Ralph David Abernathy. Abernathy was known as the “other side” of Martin Luther King. Abernathy was the earthy, outgoing man, and he was known more locally in his role as a minister in the 1950’s. Ralph David Abernathy was the man who led the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in the 1960’s. Ralph David Abernathy was a leader of the American Civil Rights Movement, a close friend of a Martin Luther King, Jr. and he also served as a minister for multiple churches. The three important parts of Abernathy’s life would be the early years, his involvement in the Civil Rights movement, and his life during the 1970’s until his death in 1990. (
Firstly, Abernathy’s Early Life includes his family and the first roles and jobs that he start doing. Abernathy’s family consisted of his mother, his father and his 10 other siblings. His parents’ names were William L and Juanita Odessa Jones. His father was a local farmer and church deacon; he owned 500 acres of farm land. Juanita, his mother, was always encouraging Ralph to strive to reach his goal of becoming preacher once he realized that was his calling. His father was a part of the school board of Linden Academy, the high school that Abernathy attended. When it came to religion, his whole family consisted of Christians. Abernathy was born the 10th out of 11 other siblings, brothers and sisters that lived with him when he was a child and adolescent in Linden, Alabama. One of his sisters gave him the nickname of “Ralph” after a favorite teacher she had. His family was respected by the black...

... middle of paper ...

...ed. It was a major hit and loss for the SCLC and the whole black community was upset and angry. Abernathy knew he had to continue the SCLCs movement, this time as the president and leader of the SCLC.

Works Cited
“Ralph David Abernathy.” Contemporary Black Biography. Vol. 1. Detroit: Gale, 1992.
Biography in Context. Web. 15 Apr. 2014.
Kirkland, W. M.. “Ralph Abernathy (1926-1990). “New Georgia Encyclopedia. 03 December
2013. Web. 15 April 2014. archeaology/ralph-abernathy-1926-1990> Burke, Joan M. Civil Rights: A Current Guide to the People, Organizations, and Events.
New York: R. R. Bowker, 1975. Print.
Evans, Harold, Gail Buckland, and Kevin Baker. The American Century. New York:
Knopf, 1998. Print.
Mabunda, L M. Reference Library of Black American. Detroit, MI:
Gale Research, 1997. Print.

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