Culture

Organizing History

By Natalie Leggette

A Philip Randolph was born in Crescent City, Florida in 1889. He was the second son of his parents, Reverend James and Elizabeth Randolph. He was christened and named Asa Philip Randolph. He was given the name Asa after a biblical king who reigned 41 years and who distributed his wealth among the people of his Kingdom.

“And Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord, as did David his father.”

-1 Kings 15:11 KJV

Raised to know that they were not inferior to any white boy, his parents taught him and his brother, that they were just as able, and as competent, and they had as much intellectuality as any individual. Teaching their sons that they were not supposed to bow or take a back seat to anyone, their teachings were reinforced by the fiery preaching of their church member, Bishop Henry Macneil Turner, who argued that black people had a right to demand total social equality. He graduated high school as valedictorian and moved to Harlem, New York in 1911. While attending college he was drawn into radical politics and became a democratic socialist speaking out for freedom, equality and justice.

In 1914, Randolph married Lucille Green, a salon owner and member of Harlem’s Black elite, with funding from her business, Randolph launched the extreme and radical publication, The Messenger, with fellow socialist, Chandler Owen. They were labeled as the New Negro Radicals. Throughout the 20th century, A. Philip Randolph set the agenda for the modern civil rights movement. Randolph was opposed to the first World War and condemned those who supported the war. Their unrelenting protests earned A.