A. Philip Randolph: A Life in the Vanguard

by Andrew E. Kersten

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.

Genres: Biography, History

169 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Andrew E. Kersten is a professor of history in the Department of Democracy and Justice Studies at the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay.

Reviews

[David Hollingsworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're looking for a short, solidly written book about an underrated civil rights icon, look no further. It's only a little over 100 pages, not counting footnotes, bibliography, etc. It covers the life of labor and civil rights leader A. Philip Randolph, from his early days as a socialist organizer to his founding of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters union to his later days as one of the main architects of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.

My only real issue with the book is Kersten compares Black Power to white supremacy. What an absurd, racist comparison! It's not a huge issue since Randolph stepped away from his activism due to old age by the dawn of the Black Power movement, so we don't get too much of this ridiculous analysis. But still, pretty lame stuff.

Otherwise, though, I appreciate this book. As a scholar and supporter of both labor and civil rights myself, I really invested in Randolph's life story and struggle. While there are some aspects of his outlook I disagreed with, I still found him an interesting subject and worthwhile, aspirational historical figure. Whether you read this book or not, look up A Philip Randolph. His legacy deserves to be remembered!