Civil RIghts Floyd B McKissick
Olivia Powers
History 121: The Sixties
Professor David Sowell
November 30, 2013 Floyd B. McKissick Sr. was a veteran of World War II and a pioneer in the integration of higher education in North Carolina. In the summer of 1951, he was admitted to the University of North Carolina, becoming one of the first African American students to attend UNC Law School. While being a key participant in the integration of UNC law school, McKissick also took on leadership positions in Civil Rights activists groups including CORE and NAACP.1 With a strong religious foundation, he established a new type of community called Soul City. Soul City’s intended plan was to open up opportunity for minorities and the poor.2 He wanted to create a better life for the future generations of African Americans. Floyd B. McKissick Sr. played a major role in the Civil Rights Movement in North Carolina by breaking through the barriers of segregation at the University of North Carolina Law School, his involvement in Civil Rights activist groups, and his creation of the Soul City Community.
Born in Ashville, North Carolina on March 9, 1922, Floyd B. McKissick would grow up to play a significant role by breaking barriers of segregation in the Civil Rights Movement. Even at a young age, he was involved in Civil Rights activism.3 He had grown up in a segregated community where his church was at the heart of the community. His parents had both been raised by ministers, which created a foundation for the activism that would play a major role throughout his life. His father, Ernest Boice McKissick, was originally from Kelton, South Carolina. He did hotel work and also worked for an up and coming company, North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company. His mother, Magnolia Thompson McKissick, was a seamstress. She also had worked at a department store and as a cashier clerk at North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company. Both his parents were hardworking and encouraged him down the path of
History 121: The Sixties
Professor David Sowell
November 30, 2013 Floyd B. McKissick Sr. was a veteran of World War II and a pioneer in the integration of higher education in North Carolina. In the summer of 1951, he was admitted to the University of North Carolina, becoming one of the first African American students to attend UNC Law School. While being a key participant in the integration of UNC law school, McKissick also took on leadership positions in Civil Rights activists groups including CORE and NAACP.1 With a strong religious foundation, he established a new type of community called Soul City. Soul City’s intended plan was to open up opportunity for minorities and the poor.2 He wanted to create a better life for the future generations of African Americans. Floyd B. McKissick Sr. played a major role in the Civil Rights Movement in North Carolina by breaking through the barriers of segregation at the University of North Carolina Law School, his involvement in Civil Rights activist groups, and his creation of the Soul City Community.
Born in Ashville, North Carolina on March 9, 1922, Floyd B. McKissick would grow up to play a significant role by breaking barriers of segregation in the Civil Rights Movement. Even at a young age, he was involved in Civil Rights activism.3 He had grown up in a segregated community where his church was at the heart of the community. His parents had both been raised by ministers, which created a foundation for the activism that would play a major role throughout his life. His father, Ernest Boice McKissick, was originally from Kelton, South Carolina. He did hotel work and also worked for an up and coming company, North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company. His mother, Magnolia Thompson McKissick, was a seamstress. She also had worked at a department store and as a cashier clerk at North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company. Both his parents were hardworking and encouraged him down the path of
Bibliography: Christian, Charles M., and Sari Bennett. Black Saga: The African American Experience : a Chronology. Basic Civitas Books, 1998. “Floyd B. McKissick.” CORE – Congress of Racial Equality. http://www.core-online.org/History/mckissick.htm (retrieved October 27, 2013). Greene, Christina. Our Separate Ways: Women and the Black Freedom Movement in Durham, North Carolina. University of North Carolina Press, 2005. Kalk, Bruce. Interview with Floyd B. McKissick Sr. Oral History Interview with Floyd B. McKissick Sr. May 31. 1989. Krantz, Rachel, and Elizabeth A. Ryan. “Floyd McKissick, Former CORE Director.” African American Registry. http://www.aaregistry.org/historic_events/view/floyd-mckissick-former-core-director. (retrieved October 27, 2013). Moon, Fletcher F. McKissick, Floyd (1922-1991). 2009. http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/reference-entries/40074131/mckissick-floyd-1922-1991. NAACP. http://www.naacp.org/pages/our-mission (retrieved October 27 2013). Open Jurist, “McKissick v. Carmichael,” 1951, accessed October 27, 2013, http://openjurist.org/187/f2d/949/mckissick-v-carmichael. “Soul City.” North Carolina History Project