Bring on your tear gas, bring on your grenades, your new supplies of Mace, your state troopers and even your national guards. But let the record show we ain’t going to be turned around. – Ralph David Abernathy
Ralph David Abernathy
On March 11, 1926 Ralph David Abernathy, minister and civil rights leader, was born in Linden, Alabama. After serving in the United States Army during World War II, Abernathy graduated with honors and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics from Alabama State University in 1950 and in 1951 earned a Master of Science degree in Sociology from Atlanta University.
In 1957, Abernathy was one of the co-founders of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.
In addition to working tirelessly on the civil rights movement, Mr. Abernathy will always be remembered as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s closest confidante and second in command. In fact, Dr. King himself said in his last speech, “Ralph David Abernathy is the best friend that I have in the world.”
The Akosua Report: Facts on The African Diaspora, is written by Akosua Lowery. Follow her on Twitter @AkosuaLowery.
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