Home > West's Encyclopedia of American Law > Randolph, Asa Philip

Asa Philip Randolph played a central role in the drive for CIVIL RIGHTS for African Americans from the 1920s to the 1970s. He was the most prominent African American labor leader during his lifetime, but his leadership went well beyond the struggle to integrate LABOR UNIONS. As the founder of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, he confronted U.S. presidents from

FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT to JOHN F. KENNEDY over the slow pace of civil rights reform.

Randolph was born April 15, 1889, in Crescent City, Florida. He moved to New York City as a young man, where he attended City College of New York. He joined the Socialist party and...