Home • Black History Month

Forgotten Heroes of the Civil Rights Movement

There were several key milestones during the Civil Rights Movement, especially those pivotal moments more than 50 years ago in 1963. Here, we take a look at the lesser-known figures of the movement who helped shape today's community and culture. 
By Myeisha Essex ·
01
Whitney M. Young, Jr
James Farmer, Whitney M. Young, Jr. and Dorothy Height
Forgotten Heroes of the Civil Rights Movement
ASSOCIATED PRESS
02
Bayard Rustin
Bayard Rustin
Forgotten Heroes of the Civil Rights Movement
Allan Baum/New York Times Co./Getty Images
03
Asa Phillip Randolph
Asa Phillip Randolph
Forgotten Heroes of the Civil Rights Movement
John Bottega, NYWTS staff photographer
04
Fannie Lou Hamer
Forgotten Heroes of the Civil Rights Movement
AP Photo/William J. Smith
05
Fredi Washington
Fredi Washington
Forgotten Heroes of the Civil Rights Movement
Photo from ‘Imitation Of Life’
06
Charles Hamilton Houston
Charles Hamilton Houston
Forgotten Heroes of the Civil Rights Movement
CharlesHamiltonHouston.org
07
Octavius Catto
Octavius Catto
Forgotten Heroes of the Civil Rights Movement
Courtesy of the Urban Archives: Temple University, Philadelphia, Pa
08
Septima Poinsette Clark
Septima Poinsette Clark and Rosa Parks
Forgotten Heroes of the Civil Rights Movement
Highlander Research and Education Center
09
Dave Dennis
Dave Dennis
Forgotten Heroes of the Civil Rights Movement
Steve Schapiro