Young, Whitney M., Jr.
(born: July 31, 1921 - died: March 11, 1971)Whitney M. Young, Jr. was born in Lincoln Ridge, KY. He was the executive director of the National Urban League, and through this organization he pushed for equal opportunity, housing, education, and economic well being for African Americans.
Young was a graduate of Lincoln Institute, Kentucky State College [now Kentucky State University] and the University of Minnesota. He was dean of social work at Atlanta University [now Clark-Atlanta University], where the Whitney M. Young Jr. School of Social Work was named in his honor. He and Florence V. Adams co-authored Some Pioneers in Social Work: brief sketches; student work book (1957). In 1969, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest award for civilians, by President Johnson. He was an adviser to Presidents Johnson, Kennedy, and Nixon.
Young was married to Margaret B. Young and was the son of Whitney Young, Sr. and Laura Young. Whitney M. Young, Jr. was in Lagos, Nigeria when he became ill and died.
For more see Militant Mediator, by D. C. Dickerson; Whitney M. Young, Jr. at Britannica online; Whitney Young Jr. at African American Registry; and the Whitney M. Young, Jr. Papers at Columbia University.
