For over half a century, Florida native A. Philip Randolph helped lead the fight for racial equality. Born in Crescent City in 1889, Randolph moved to Jacksonville in 1891. There, he attended the Cookman Institute (now Bethune-Cookman University), one of the only academic high schools in Florida for African Americans. After graduating as valedictorian in 1907, he headed to New York City, where he became active in politics, trade unionism, and the civil rights movement.

In 1925, he organized the first predominantly black labor union, the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters. In 1937, they won important concessions when the Pullman Rail Car Company agreed to wage increases, job security, and collective bargaining rights for its employees. This marked a major victory in the quest for equal rights and brought Randolph national recognition as an African-American leader.

Randolph remained active until his death in 1979. He played a critical role in efforts to desegregate the American armed forces in 1948 and in organizing the now-famous 1963 March on Washington. Randolph received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Lyndon Johnson in 1964.

Courtesy of the Florida Department of State, Division of Historical Resources