Ralph Abernathy
1926 – 1990

Ralph Abernathy

American civil rights activist and minister (1926–1990)

religious leadertheologianChristian ministerhuman rights defenderparson
Born
1926-03-11, Linden
Died
1990-04-17
Birthplace state
Alabama

Biography

Ralph David Abernathy Sr. was born on March 11, 1926, in Linden, Alabama, and died on April 17, 1990. He was ordained in the Baptist tradition in 1948 and worked as a civil rights activist and Baptist minister. Abernathy collaborated with Martin Luther King Jr. and E. D. Nixon to establish the Montgomery Improvement Association, which organized the Montgomery bus boycott, and served on the executive board of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. After King's assassination in 1968, he became president of the SCLC and led the Poor People's Campaign in Washington, D.C.

Occupation

Ralph Abernathy is recorded as a religious leader, a theologian, a Christian minister, a human rights defender, a parson, a civil rights advocate and a politician, born in Alabama (1926–1990).

Connections to Alabama

Ralph Abernathy was born in Linden, Alabama in 1926. Explore other notable figures from Alabama, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

Other notable figures from Alabama›Alabamahistory ›Historic sites in Alabama›
Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Linden

Ralph Abernathy came from Linden. A full Aubrey report on Linden pulls together everything the historical record holds about that place, from the first settlers to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Linden report
Or see a real report first

More notable figures from Alabama

Other historical figures born in Alabama, ranked by historical prominence.

Helen Keller
Helen Keller
American deafblind author, political activist, lecturer, scholar (1880-1968)
Rosa Parks
Rosa Parks
civil rights activist
Harper Lee
Harper Lee
American novelist (1926–2016)
Jesse Owens
Jesse Owens
American track and field athlete (1913–1980)
Nat King Cole
Nat King Cole
American singer and jazz pianist (1919–1965)
Edward O. Wilson
Edward O. Wilson
American biologist, naturalist, and writer (1929–2021)
Louise Fletcher
Louise Fletcher
American actress (1934–2022)

Frequently asked about Ralph Abernathy

Who was Ralph Abernathy?
Ralph Abernathy was American civil rights activist and minister (1926–1990), born in Alabama (1926 – 1990).
When and where was Ralph Abernathy born?
Ralph Abernathy was born on 1926-03-11 in Linden.
When did Ralph Abernathy die?
Ralph died on 1990-04-17.
What was Ralph Abernathy known for?
Ralph Abernathy is recorded as a religious leader, a theologian, a Christian minister, a human rights defender, a parson, a civil rights advocate and a politician.
Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

Aubrey Research

Research the history of any US location

Aubrey searches federal archives, archaeological records, historic registers, and primary sources to build a full historical report for any address or place in the United States.

Research your locationView a free sample report