Unsung Heroes Of Black History: Whitney Young

In honor of Black History Month, VIBE is saluting influential figures who may not appear on any stamps but have made significant contributions to American culture. This week, we place a spotlight on Whitney Young, an influential member of the National Urban League who fought to end employment discrimination in the United States.

If you've checked out last week's tribute to comic book writer Dwayne McDuffie, then you know that this man is a forefather in the fight for equal rights in America.

Here, we list five things that celebrate the life and legacy of Mr. McDuffie.

1. Whitney Young Dealt With Racism Effectively —

While fighting in World War II, Young was assigned to a road construction crew of Black soldiers supervised by Southern White officers. Trained in electrical engineering at MIT allowed Young to be promoted from private to first sergeant, creating hostility on both sides.

Despite the tension between the cultures, Young was able to be levelheaded and mediate effectively between his White officers and Black soldiers angry at their poor treatment. This situation propelled Young into a life-long career in race relations.

2. Whitney Young Added Bark to National Urban League's Bite —

The Urban League had traditionally been a cautious and moderate organization with many White members. In 1961, at age 40, Whitney Young became Executive Director of the National Urban League. Within the first four years of his tenure, he expanded the organization from 38 employees to 1,600 employees; and from an annual budget of $325,000 to one of $6,100,000. He remained the President of the National Urban League from 1961 until his death in 1971.

Bringing them prominently into the spotlight of the Civil Rights movement, Young initiated programs like "Street Academy," an alternative education system to developed to prepare high school dropouts for college, and "New Thrust," an effort to help local Black leaders identify and solve community problems.

3. Hundreds of Sites Are Named For Whitney Young —

The legacy of Whitney Young is truly immeasurable, as hundreds of schools and other sites are named for Young. The East Capitol Street Bridge in Washington, D.C., was renamed the Whitney Young Memorial Bridge in his honor.

Clark Atlanta University named its School of Social Work, where Whitney Young served as Dean, in Young's honor. The Whitney M. Young School of Social Work is well known for founding the "Afro-Centric" prospective of social work.

4. Whitney Young Was A Trusted Advisor to Presidents Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon —

Reluctant to enter politics himself, Young served as an important advisor to Presidents John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, and Richard Nixon. Young was particularly close to President Johnson, and in 1969, Johnson honored Young with the highest civilian award, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Despite their close relationship, Young was frustrated by Johnson's attempts to use him against Martin Luther King's opposition to the increasingly unpopular Vietnam War. Young publicly supported Johnson's war policy, but frequently came close to opposing the war after the end of Johnson's presidency.