Hosea Williams - Civil Rights Leader, Career and Childhood
Hosea Williams's Personal Details
Hosea Williams was an American civil rights leader, politician and philanthropist who played a major role in the struggle against segregation
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthday | January 5, 1926 |
| Died on | November 16, 2000 |
| Nationality | American |
| Famous | Philanthropists, Democrats, Republicans, Activists, Civil Rights Activists, Civil Rights Leader |
| Ideologies | Democrats, Republicans |
| City/State | Georgia |
| Spouses | Juanita T. Williams |
| Known as | Hosea Lorenzo Williams, Dr. Hosea Williams |
| Childrens | Hosea Williams |
| Universities |
|
| Birth Place | Attapulgus |
| Gender | Male |
| Father | Willie Wiggins |
| Sun Sign | Capricorn |
| Born in | Attapulgus |
| Famous as | Civil Rights Leader |
| Died at Age | 74 |
Hosea Williams's photo
Who is Hosea Williams?
Hosea Williams was an American civil rights leader, politician and philanthropist who played a major role in the struggle against segregation. Born to blind African-American parents in Georgia, Williams was raised by his grandparents following the death of his mother. After leaving home at the age of 14, Williams worked odd jobs for several years before joining the United States Army during the Second World War. Upon returning, he finished his high school and earned his graduate as well as post-graduate degree in chemistry. Thereafter, he began working for the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Georgia and also joined the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). This marked the beginning of his association with the Civil Rights movement and he became known for his speeches against segregation. Later, Williams joined the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and was recruited to the staff of Martin Luther King, Jr. Williams was an active member in the Freedom Summer voting registration campaign and later also led the Selma to Montgomery protest march that was attacked by mounted police, an event that became known as ‘Bloody Sunday’. After King’s assassination, Williams became the executive director of SCLC and later gravitated towards politics. In 1987, he led the largest civil rights march in Georgia history into all-white Forsyth County which resulted in a violent confrontation. He was a dedicated activist who continued to serve the deprived until his death due to cancer
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Childhood & Early Life
Hosea Lorenzo Williams was born on January 5, 1926, in Attapulgus, Georgia, to teenage parents who were committed to a trade institute for the blind in Macon. When her mother learnt about her pregnancy she ran away from the institute.
Williams lost her mother at the age of 10, who died due to childbirth complications while giving birth to her second child. Thereafter, the two children were raised by their maternal grandparents, Lela and Turner Williams.
At the age of 14, Williams was forced to leave home so as to avoid being lynched due to his alleged affair with a white girl. After working on menial jobs during the next three years in Florida, he was drafted in the U.S. Army during the Second World War.
In the war, he served in an all-black unit under General George S. Patton and rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant. After being severely wounded in the battle, Williams spent a year recovering in a military hospital in Europe but was left with a permanent limp.
Upon returning from the war, Williams finished his high school and then attended the Morris Brown College in Atlanta. After graduating with a bachelor's degree in chemistry, he went on to earn a master’s degree from the Atlanta University.
Career
In early 1950s, after completing his post-graduation, Williams started working as a research chemist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Savannah, Georgia, a position he retained until 1963. In the meantime, he was also ordained as a minister.
In 1952, while working as a chemist, Williams first became involved in the civil rights movement when he joined the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
In the early 1960s, Williams joined the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and subsequently emerged as one of the most trusted officers of Martin Luther King Jr. In 1964, as an important member of SCLC, Williams helped in conducting black voter registration drives in the Freedom Summer.
The following year, in March 1965, Williams played a leadership role in the march for voting rights from Selma to Montgomery, during which the marchers were tear-gassed and brutally beaten by police; the event came to be known as ‘Bloody Sunday’.
In 1965, William was appointed the president of the SCLC's Summer Community Organization and Political Education. In 1968, he became the field director for the SCLC's Poor People's Campaign and worked together with the Coordinating Council of Community Organizations on the Chicago Campaign.
In the 1970s, Williams was elected as the executive director of the SCLC, a position he retained for several years before being ousted in a power struggle. In 1974, Williams entered into mainstream politics upon winning the election to the Georgia State Assembly, serving on the seat until 1985.
In 1985, he was elected as a member of the Atlanta City Council, a position he retained until 1990. From 1990 to 1994, he served as DeKalb County commissioner.
In 1987, Williams led another important civil rights march in the all-white Forsyth County in Georgia, during which the protestors bravely withstood the assault and violence from white supremacists and members of the Ku Klux Klan.
Major Works
As a trusted member of SCLC, he traveled extensively in the South, recruiting and organizing volunteers. In the struggle against segregation, he served as an able civil rights activist, and played an important role in the demonstrations that led to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Philanthropic Works
In 1971, Williams founded the ‘Hosea Feed the Hungry and Homeless’, an international non-profit organization known for providing food, medical and educational supplies to the deprived.
Awards & Achievements
Hosea Williams received the Most Courageous Leadership in the Freedom Movement Award from NAACP for the year 1960-61.
In 1961, Williams was presented Ten Years of Satisfactory Service Award by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
In 1963, he was given the SCLC National Affiliate of the Year Award in the National SCLC Conference.
Personal Life & Legacy
In the early 1950s, Williams married Juanita Terry. The couple had eight children together, four sons and four daughters.
Hosea Williams died on November 16, 2000, in Atlanta, Georgia, following a three-year battle with kidney cancer. He was buried at the Lincoln Cemetery in Atlanta, Georgia.
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Hosea Williams biography timelines
- // 5th Jan 1926Hosea Lorenzo Williams was born on January 5, 1926, in Attapulgus, Georgia, to teenage parents who were committed to a trade institute for the blind in Macon. When her mother learnt about her pregnancy she ran away from the institute.
- // 1952In 1952, while working as a chemist, Williams first became involved in the civil rights movement when he joined the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
- // 1960Hosea Williams received the Most Courageous Leadership in the Freedom Movement Award from NAACP for the year 1960-61.
- // 1961In 1961, Williams was presented Ten Years of Satisfactory Service Award by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
- // 1963In early 1950s, after completing his post-graduation, Williams started working as a research chemist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Savannah, Georgia, a position he retained until 1963. In the meantime, he was also ordained as a minister.
- // 1963In 1963, he was given the SCLC National Affiliate of the Year Award in the National SCLC Conference.
- // 1964In the early 1960s, Williams joined the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and subsequently emerged as one of the most trusted officers of Martin Luther King Jr. In 1964, as an important member of SCLC, Williams helped in conducting black voter registration drives in the Freedom Summer.
- // 1964 To 1965As a trusted member of SCLC, he traveled extensively in the South, recruiting and organizing volunteers. In the struggle against segregation, he served as an able civil rights activist, and played an important role in the demonstrations that led to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
- // 1965 To 1968In 1965, William was appointed the president of the SCLC's Summer Community Organization and Political Education. In 1968, he became the field director for the SCLC's Poor People's Campaign and worked together with the Coordinating Council of Community Organizations on the Chicago Campaign.
- // Mar 1965The following year, in March 1965, Williams played a leadership role in the march for voting rights from Selma to Montgomery, during which the marchers were tear-gassed and brutally beaten by police; the event came to be known as ‘Bloody Sunday’.
- // 1971In 1971, Williams founded the ‘Hosea Feed the Hungry and Homeless’, an international non-profit organization known for providing food, medical and educational supplies to the deprived.
- // 1974 To 1985In the 1970s, Williams was elected as the executive director of the SCLC, a position he retained for several years before being ousted in a power struggle. In 1974, Williams entered into mainstream politics upon winning the election to the Georgia State Assembly, serving on the seat until 1985.
- // 1985In 1985, he was elected as a member of the Atlanta City Council, a position he retained until 1990. From 1990 to 1994, he served as DeKalb County commissioner.
- // 1987In 1987, Williams led another important civil rights march in the all-white Forsyth County in Georgia, during which the protestors bravely withstood the assault and violence from white supremacists and members of the Ku Klux Klan.
- // 16th Nov 2000Hosea Williams died on November 16, 2000, in Atlanta, Georgia, following a three-year battle with kidney cancer. He was buried at the Lincoln Cemetery in Atlanta, Georgia.
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Hosea Williams's FAQ
What is Hosea Williams birthday?
Hosea Williams was born at 1926-01-05
When was Hosea Williams died?
Hosea Williams was died at 2000-11-16
Where was Hosea Williams died?
Hosea Williams was died in Atlanta
Which age was Hosea Williams died?
Hosea Williams was died at age 74
Where is Hosea Williams's birth place?
Hosea Williams was born in Attapulgus
What is Hosea Williams nationalities?
Hosea Williams's nationalities is American
What is Hosea Williams ideologies?
Hosea Williams's ideologies is Democrats, Republicans
Who is Hosea Williams spouses?
Hosea Williams's spouses is Juanita T. Williams
Who is Hosea Williams childrens?
Hosea Williams's childrens is Hosea Williams
What was Hosea Williams universities?
Hosea Williams studied at Clark Atlanta University, Morris Brown College
Who is Hosea Williams's father?
Hosea Williams's father is Willie Wiggins
What is Hosea Williams's sun sign?
Hosea Williams is Capricorn
How famous is Hosea Williams?
Hosea Williams is famouse as Civil Rights Leader