Origins & Early Life

Asa Philip Randolph (April 15, 1889 – May 16, 1979) was an American railwayman, trade unionist and civil rights activist. In 1925, he organized and led the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, the first successful African-American-led labor union. In the early Civil Rights Movement and the Labor Movement, Randolph was a prominent voice. His continuous agitation with the support of fellow labor rights activists against racist labor practices helped lead President Franklin D.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Roosevelt to issue Executive Order 8802 in 1941, banning discrimination in the defense industries during World War II. The group then successfully maintained pressure, so that President Harry S. Truman proposed a new Civil Rights Act and issued Executive Orders 9980 and 9981 in 1948, promoting fair employment and anti-discrimination policies in federal government hiring, and ending racial segregation in the armed services. Randolph was born and raised in Florida. He was educated at Cookman Institute, then moved to New York City as part of the early Great Migration, leaving behind the discriminatory Jim Crow–era south.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

There he became convinced that overcoming racism required collective action and he was drawn to...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Adolphe Pégoud — Contemporary (Born in 1889) (1889): Pioneering French aviator and the first recorded fighter ace of World War I.
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• Amrit Kaur — Contemporary (Born in 1889) (1889): Pioneering Indian politician and the first woman Health Minister of independent India.
• Aaliyah — Contemporary (Born in 1979) (1979): Pioneering R&B artist known for redefining urban pop and hip hop sounds.
• Abdul-Malik al-Houthi — Contemporary (Born in 1979) (1979): Yemeni religious leader and second principal figure of the Houthi movement (Ansar Allah).
• Adam Brody — Contemporary (Born in 1979) (1979): American actor known for roles in The O.C., Shazam!, and StartUp.
• Abraham Lincoln — Shared historical date (04-15 · Died) (1865): 16th President of the United States; guided the nation through the Civil War.
• Adolphe Thiers — Shared historical date (04-15 · Born) (1797): Influential French statesman, historian, and President of the Third Republic.
• Andy Kaufman — Shared historical date (05-16 · Died) (1984): Pioneering performance artist known for anti-comedy and character work.
• Bronisław Malinowski — Shared historical date (05-16 · Died) (1942): Pioneering anthropologist known for intensive fieldwork and functionalist theory.
• 1889 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1889
• April 15 (04-15) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on April 15
• 1979 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1979
• May 16 (05-16) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on May 16