Randolph, Asa Philip (1889-1979)

US labour and civil-rights leader. Devoting himself to the cause of unionization, especially among African-Americans, he was named a vice president of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) 1957. He was one of the organizers of the 1963 civil-rights march on Washington.

Born in Crescent City, Florida, USA, Randolph was educated at the City College of New York and became involved in labour-organizing activities as a student.

He founded the periodical Messenger in 1917 and, after successfully organizing railroad workers, served as the president of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters 1925-68.