# data[].attributes.body
Born: July 31, 1921 Kentucy
Died: March 11, 1971

Parents Whitney Young Sr., his father, was president of Lincoln Institute, an all black boarding high school. His mother was Laura Young a teacher and she was the first female postmistress.

Education Whitney Young graduated valedictorian from Lincoln Institute. He graduated from Kentucky State University with a BSW. During his army service in World War II, he became an electical engineer and recieved training at  Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He then obtained his MSW at University of Minnesota.

Major Positions Held
National Urban Leauge Executive Director
Dean of the School of Social Work at Atlanta University,
Officer in the local NAACP
Council for United Civil Rights Leadership (CUCRL). Assisted in forming the Council

Dickerson, D. C. (1998). Militant Mediator : Whitney M. Young Jr. Lexington: The University Press of Kentucky.

# data[].attributes.body
Whitney Young stabilized the school of social work enrollment. He assisted in further developing the curriculum. He brought in contributions and built relationships. He desegregated the school and had white field advisers which opened up more white jobs. "Young made a major contribution to the civil rights movement through his audacious advocacy of creative programs for racial advancement and as a gifted and effective organizer and mediator. He suggested in 1963, for example, that the federal government undertake a bold initiative, a "domestic Marshall Plan," and spend $145 million over the following decade. to rehabilitate black Americas. In 1968 he secured from the Ford Foundation a grant of $1,050,000 for the National Urban League to initiate a grassroots program relevant to the immediate needs of particular black communities. This "New Thrust" effort allowed the National Urban League "to change ... from ... a bridge between black and white communities to that of an advocate for ... large, low-income ghetto areas." (Dickerson, D., 1998 p 93-95) Whitney Young assisted in organizing black leaders, which he assisted in creating Council for United Civil Rights Leadership (CUCRL). The group consisted of the leaders of major civil rights organizations. The leaders divided up money that was donated by wealthy businesses. Whitney Young founded the National Urban Coalition which set out to establish alliances between business and government for the purpose of solving urban issues. (Dickerson, D., 1998 p 5)
Dickerson, D. C. (1998). Militant Mediator : Whitney M. Young Jr. Lexington: The University Press of Kentucky.

# data[].attributes.body
Appointed executive director of the National Urban League in 1961. He was a black activist assisted in bridging the divide between the caucasian business leaders and politicians and the disenfranchised black community. With his guidance the organization experienced growth from 60 to 98 chapters. Additionally it changed emphasis from middle-class issues to problems of the urban poor. One of his biggest accomplishments was persuading corporate America and major foundations to assist  civil rights movement which in-turn provided job training, housing, education, and family rehabilitation.
Dickerson, D. C. (1998). Militant Mediator : Whitney M. Young Jr. Lexington: The University Press of Kentucky.

# data[].attributes.body
Critics felt he was too accommodating to the white wealthy leaders and business men.

His methods differed from Martin Luther King as he did not insist on equality, but appealed to organizations and leadership why what was good for civil rights was also good business. It would create a middle class for African-Americans and they would have larger consumers and have a larger stake in our economy. “While he helped government, business, and foundation leaders understand black demands, he developed specific programs to involve these officials in efforts to allay racial tensions and to ameliorate the black social and economic condition. “ (Dickerson, D., 1998 p2)

Dickerson, D. C. (1998). Militant Mediator : Whitney M. Young Jr. Lexington: The University Press of Kentucky.

# data[].attributes.body
Whitney M. Young Jr

# data[].attributes.body
Whitney Young worked to convince buisnesses that "eliminating discrimination against racial groups is good business" (Dickerson, D., 1998 p 59). Greater economic opportunities for blacks meant " increasing market for business" challenged businessmen to "take the initiative in ending job discrimination against Negroes." (Dickerson, D., 1998 p 59)
Dickerson, D. C. (1998). Militant Mediator : Whitney M. Young Jr. Lexington: The University Press of Kentucky.