Young, Whitney Moore, Jr. (1921-1971), was an American civil rights leader. He served as the executive director of the National Urban League from 1961 until his death. Young was one of several black leaders who helped organize the 1963 March on Washington. Young helped thousands of African Americans obtain jobs. He started on-the-job training programs, and established Head Start and tutoring centers.
Young was born on July 31, 1921, in Lincoln Ridge, Kentucky. He graduated from Kentucky State College (now Kentucky State University) and earned a master’s degree at the University of Minnesota. From 1947 to 1953, he worked for the Urban League in St. Paul, Minnesota, and Omaha, Nebraska. Young was dean of the Atlanta University School of Social Work from 1954 to 1960. He taught at the University of Nebraska School of Social Work and served on federal commissions concerned with social welfare or race relations. Young wrote several books, including To Be Equal (1964). He died on March 11, 1971.
