Background
Abernathy, Ralph David was born on March 11, 1926 in Linden, Alabama, United States. Son of W.L. and Louivery (Bell) Abernathy.
Abernathy, Ralph David was born on March 11, 1926 in Linden, Alabama, United States. Son of W.L. and Louivery (Bell) Abernathy.
Bachelor of Science, Alabama State College, 1950. Master of Arts in Sociology, Atlanta University, 1951. Doctor of Laws, Allen University, South Carolina, 1960.
Doctor of Laws, Southampton College. Doctor of Laws, Long Island University, 1969. Doctor of Laws, Alabama State University, Montgomery, 1974.
Doctor of Divinity (honorary), Morehouse College, 1971. Doctor of Divinity (honorary), Kalamazoo College, 1978.
Personnel counselor, instructor social science, Alabama State College, 1951; ordained to ministry Baptist Church, 1948; pastor, First Baptist Church, Montgomery, Alabama, 1951-1961; pastor, West Hunter St. Baptist Church, Atlanta, 1961-1990.
( Originally published in 1989, this beautifully written ...)
Organizer Montgomery Improvement Association, 1955, initiator business boycott, Montgomery, 1955, an organizer, 1957. Since financial secretary-treasurer Southern Christian Leadership Conference, vice president at large, then president, 1968-1977. Leader Poor People's Campaign, Resurrection City, Washington, 1968.
Chairman Commision on Racism and Apartheid. Addressed United Nations, 1971. Member Atlanta Ministers Union.
Organizer, chairman Operation Breadbasket, Atlanta. Member of advisory committee Congress of Racial Equality. Participant World Peace Council Presidential Committee Meeting, Santiago, Chile, 1972.
Active local American Red Cross, American Cancer Society, Young Men's Christian Association. Member National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Kappa Alpha Psi, Phi Delta Kappa.
Married Juanita Odessa Jones, August 31, 1952. Children: Juandalynn Ralpheda, Donzaleigh Avis, Ralph David III, Kwame Luthuli.
