Whitney Young Facts & Worksheets

Whitney Young was an American civil rights leader and social worker who fought for equitable access to socioeconomic opportunity for African-American people during the 1960s. At the height of the civil rights movement, he served as the executive director of the National Urban League from 1961 to 1971. He was influential in creating federal poverty programs—known as the “war on poverty” in the 1960s—sponsored by US President Lyndon B. Johnson’s administration.

See the fact file below for more information on Whitney Young, or you can download our 26-page Whitney Young worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

LIFE AND EDUCATION

• Whitney Moore Young Jr. was born on July 31, 1921, in Shelby County, Kentucky.
• He was born the middle child and only son to educators Whitney M. Young Sr. and Laura Young (nee Ray).
• At age 13, Whitney enrolled at the Lincoln Institute, where his father served as the president.
• Whitney’s father also served as the president of the Kentucky Negro Educational Association for two terms.
• Whitney’s mother was a teacher who was appointed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to be the first female postmistress in Kentucky in 1940.
• Whitney graduated as his class valedictorian from the Lincoln Institute in 1937, then went on to matriculate at Kentucky State Industrial College (now Kentucky State University), a historically black institution.
• In college, he shined as the manager of the football team, a tennis star, a basketball player, the president of his senior class, and the vice president of the fraternity Alpha Phi Alpha.
• It was also in college where he met Margaret Buckner who would later be his wife.
• After obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree in social work in 1941, Whitney planned to be a doctor.
• However, things didn’t go as planned because Whitney fell ill with pneumonia the following summer.
• Instead of getting into medicine, he taught at a high school for a year.
• His teaching stint was followed by active service during World War II beginning in July of 1942.
• He was inspired to pursue social work after he served as a racial mediator in France during the war.
• He married his college sweetheart, Margaret, in 1944; they later had two daughters.
• In 1947, he obtained a master’s degree in social work from the University of Minnesota, where his wife also earned her master’s degree in educational psychology.

EARLY CAREER IN THE NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE

• Established in 1910, the National Urban League is an independent civil rights organization that advocates for economic and social justice for African Americans and against racial discrimination in the United States.
• From being a volunteer in the organization, Whitney became an industrial relations secretary for St. Paul, Minnesota branch from 1947 to 1950.
• He then served as the executive secretary of the organization’s branch in Omaha, Nebraska, from 1950 to 1954.
• In that role, he was instrumental in securing employment for disadvantaged Black workers by helping them get jobs that used to be reserved for whites.
• In 1954, he took a position as dean of Atlanta University’s School of Social Work, which was renamed after him in 2000.
• He was also co-chairperson at the Atlanta Council on Human Relations.
• In 1960, he joined the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and was elected president of the Georgia chapter.
• He was close friends with Roy Wilkins, NAACP’s executive director, from 1964 to 1977.
• In the same year, he was awarded a Rockefeller Foundation grant and studied at Harvard University for a postgraduate year.
• At age 40, he was promoted to executive director of the Urban League in 1961.

CAREER DURING THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT

• Whitney Young served as the League’s executive director until he died in 1971.
• During his tenure, the organization grew from 60 to 98 affiliates, from 300 to over 1,200 staffers, and the organization’s budget also increased ten times.
• He played a lead role in pushing corporate institutions to hire more African-Americans and stand for racial integration in their staff.
• He also urged major foundations to financially contribute to the civil rights movement.
• These monetary contributions were used to support programs for employment, education, housing, and family rehabilitation.
• Whitney also took a bold stand in leading the League to the forefront of the American civil rights movement, despite the cautious reservations of some board members.
• The benefactors were nervous that the march could turn violent, leading to the withdrawal of support from their white stakeholders.
• Whitney persuaded the League that they could moderate the march’s radical elements.
• In 1963, the League co-sponsored the historic March on Washington, a march dedicated to advocating for the civil and economic rights of African-Americans.
• It was at the March on Washington when Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech.
• Since then, Whitney has been known as a key figure in the civil rights movement.

WORK AS PRESIDENTIAL ADVISOR

• Whitney Young had been reluctant to seek a position in the federal government.
• Nonetheless, he served in an advisory role to former U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson.
• Martin Luther King, Jr.’s opposition to the Vietnam War alienated him from President Johnson.
• But since Whitney took a moderate stand and disagreed with King’s opposition, he became a close advisor to President Johnson.
• As a close advisor of Johnson, he proposed the Domestic Marshall Plan, which partially shaped President Johnson’s anti-poverty programs (also known as the “war on poverty”).
• Whitney detailed his proposals for integration, social programs, and affirmative action in his two books, “To Be Equal” (1964) and “Beyond Racism: Building an Open Society” (1969).
• In 1968, the Johnson administration honored Young with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, considered the highest civilian award.
• In 1968, he was offered a Cabinet post by the new administration headed by Richard Nixon, but he turned it down and focused on his efforts as the executive director of the Urban League.
• From 1969 to 1971, he advocated for American social workers as the President of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW).

DEATH AND LEGACY

• At the age of 49, Whitney Young suddenly died on March 11, 1971, while attending a conference in Lagos, Nigeria.
• He reportedly drowned while swimming at a beach.
• President Nixon deployed a special Air Force jet to retrieve Whitney’s body.
• More than 6,000 people, including civil rights leader and Martin Luther King Jr.’s wife, Coretta Scott King, attended his funeral.
• In 1981, he was honored by the United States Postal Service on a postage stamp as part of its Black Heritage series. 
• In 2000, Clark Atlanta University honored Whitney Young by renaming its school of social work after him.

Whitney Young Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Whitney Young across 26 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about Whitney Young. Whitney Young was an American civil rights leader and social worker who fought for equitable access to socioeconomic opportunity for African-American people during the 1960s.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

1. Whitney Young Facts
2. The Youth of Young
3. Milestone Timeline
4. War on Poverty Infographic
5. Truth Transformation
6. Odd One Out
7. Key Figures
8. Whitney’s Quote Wall
9. News on the March
10. Against Discrimination
11. The Power of Advocacy

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Whitney Young?

Whitney Young (July 31, 1921 – March 11, 1971) was a prominent African American civil rights leader and social worker. He was best known for his work as the executive director of the National Urban League, where he advocated for economic and social equality for African Americans.

What was Whitney Young’s role in the civil rights movement?

Whitney Young played a significant role in the civil rights movement by focusing on economic empowerment and equal opportunities for African Americans. He worked to bridge the gap between the African American community and the corporate and political establishment, seeking to negotiate solutions to racial inequalities.

What were some of Whitney Young’s achievements?

Among his notable achievements, Whitney Young played a key role in integrating major corporations, advocating for affirmative action policies, and working to expand job opportunities for African Americans. He was also a vocal proponent of nonviolent protest and sought to build partnerships between civil rights organizations and the government.

What was Whitney Young’s relationship with the U.S. government?

Whitney Young had a complex relationship with the U.S. government. While he worked to establish connections with policymakers and sought cooperation in addressing racial inequality, he also critiqued the slow pace of progress and urged the government to take more decisive actions in promoting civil rights.

How did Whitney Young’s life end?

Tragically, Whitney Young’s life came to an untimely end when he drowned during a working conference in Lagos, Nigeria, on March 11, 1971. His death was a great loss to the civil rights movement, and his legacy continues to inspire activists and leaders working for social justice and equality.

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