Origins & Early Life

Walter Francis White (July 1, 1893 – March 21, 1955) was an American civil rights activist who led the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) for a quarter of a century, from 1929 until 1955. He directed a broad program of legal challenges to racial segregation and disfranchisement. He was also a journalist, novelist, and essayist. White first joined the NAACP in 1918, at the invitation of James Weldon Johnson, the NAACP's Executive Secretary.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

As Johnson's assistant he traveled to the South to investigate lynchings and race riots. Being light-skinned, he was able to pass as white to facilitate his investigations and protect himself in tense situations. White succeeded Johnson as the head of the NAACP in an acting capacity in 1929, taking over officially in 1931, and led the organization until his death in 1955. White led the NAACP in campaigning for a federal law against lynching, to bar employment discrimination in defense industries during World War II, and to end the segregation of the armed forces after the war. Under White's leadership, the NAACP set up its Legal Defense Fund, which conducted numerous legal challenges to segregation and disfranchisement...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Bai Chongxi — Contemporary (Born in 1893) (1893): Prominent Chinese military general and KMT leader who ruled Guangxi province.
• Bill Tilden — Contemporary (Born in 1893) (1893): Dominant American tennis star, 'Big Bill', known for 14 Major singles titles.
• Bugs Moran — Contemporary (Born in 1893) (1893): Chicago Prohibition-era gangster known for his role in the St. Valentine's Day Massacre.
• Akira Toriyama — Contemporary (Born in 1955) (1955): Pioneering manga artist, creator of Dr. Slump and the global phenomenon, Dragon Ball.
• Al Waleed bin Talal Al Saud — Contemporary (Born in 1955) (1955): Saudi billionaire, investor, and influential member of the House of Saud.
• Albert Einstein — Contemporary (Died in 1955) (1955): Pioneering theoretical physicist known for the theory of relativity and E=mc2.
• Babak Khorramdin — Shared historical date (07-01 · Born) (798): 9th-century Iranian revolutionary leader of the Khorram-Dinān rebellion.
• Baybars — Shared historical date (07-01 · Died) (1277): Mamluk Sultan who defeated the Mongols at Ain Jalut and crushed the Crusaders.
• Ali Abdullah Saleh — Shared historical date (03-21 · Born) (1947): Yemeni military officer and politician who served as President of Yemen from 1990 to 2012.
• Ali Daei — Shared historical date (03-21 · Born) (1969): Legendary Iranian striker, celebrated for his prolific goal-scoring record in Asian football.
• 1893 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1893
• July 1 (07-01) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on July 1
• 1955 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1955
• March 21 (03-21) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on March 21