Before the emergence of Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., there were several key leaders who fought for civil rights in the United States. Among them was A. Philip Randolph, who perhaps best embodied the hopes, ideals, and aspirations of black Americans. Born in the South at the start of the Jim Crow era, Randolph was by his thirtieth birthday a prime mover in the movement to expand civil, social, and economic rights in America. A Socialist and a radical, Randolph devoted his life to energizing the black masses into collective action. He successfully organized the all-black Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters and led the March on Washington Movement during the Second World War. In this engaging new book, historian Andrew E. Kersten explores Randolph's significant influences and accomplishments as both a labor and civil rights leader. Kersten pays particular attention to Randolph's political philosophy, his involvement in the labor and civil rights movements, and his dedication to improving the lives of American workers.

By Andrew E. Kersten - Series edited by Jacqueline M. Moore and Nina Mjagkij

Foreword
Chapter 1: From Preacher Son to Socialist Radical: Randolph's Formative Years in Florida and New York City
Chapter 2: A Union Revolution: The Creation of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters
Chapter 3: When Negroes Don't March: A. Philip Randolph and the Power of Protest Politics during World War II
Chapter 4: Unfinished Business: Randolph's Civil Rights Struggles During the Cold War
Chapter 5: The 1963 March on Washington: Randolph's Finest Hour
Afterword
Documents
Bibliographic Essay