Faith, Courage, & Black Excellence

Throughout the month of February, we will take time each week to honor Black History Month by spotlighting individuals whose lives helped shape history through faith, courage, creativity, and perseverance. These leaders, innovators, and trailblazers used their gifts to uplift communities, challenge injustice, and open doors for generations to come. As we reflect on their legacies, we also celebrate the power of purpose and the impact of walking faithfully in one’s calling.

Week 1: Faith, Freedom & Civil Rights Leadership

Andrew Young

Andrew Young is a minister, civil rights leader, and global diplomat who worked closely with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as a key strategist in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. He played a critical role in organizing nonviolent protests, negotiating during tense civil rights conflicts, and serving as a trusted spokesperson for the movement. Young later transitioned from activism into public service, viewing leadership as a calling rooted in faith and justice.

Notable Achievements:

• Helped secure passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965

• Served as the first Black U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations

• Became Atlanta’s first Black mayor

Lesser-Known Facts:

• Often served as the chief negotiator during standoffs between activists and officials

• Helped bring international investment and the 1996 Olympics to Atlanta

• Continues to advocate for global human rights and economic equity

John Lewis

John Lewis dedicated his life to faith-driven justice and nonviolent resistance. As a young activist, he became chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and helped organize direct action campaigns across the South. His leadership was grounded in the belief that love, discipline, and courage could transform society.

Notable Achievements:

• Led the Selma to Montgomery marches

• Served over three decades in the U.S. Congress

• Received the Presidential Medal of Freedom

Lesser-Known Facts:

• Was arrested more than 40 times for peaceful protest

• Sustained life-threatening injuries on Bloody Sunday

• Coined the phrase “good trouble” as a moral responsibility

Medgar Evers

Medgar Evers was a civil rights activist and World War II veteran who worked tirelessly to dismantle segregation in Mississippi. As the NAACP’s first field secretary in the state, he organized voter registration drives and investigated racial violence despite constant threats. His courage helped bring national attention to the brutality faced by Black Americans in the Deep South.

Notable Achievements:

• Advanced voter registration efforts under extreme danger

• Organized economic boycotts against segregated businesses

• Became a catalyst for civil rights legislation after his assassination

Lesser-Known Facts:

• Lived under armed protection due to death threats

• Continued activism while raising a young family

• His brother later became Mississippi’s first Black mayor since Reconstruction

Marcus Garvey

Marcus Garvey was a charismatic leader and organizer who promoted Black pride, unity, and self-determination worldwide. Through the Universal Negro Improvement Association, he inspired millions to embrace cultural identity and economic independence. His message emphasized discipline, dignity, and faith as tools for liberation.

Notable Achievements:

• Built the largest Black-led mass movement of the 20th century

• Established Black-owned businesses and institutions

• Influenced generations of global Black leadership

Lesser-Known Facts:

• Founded a Black-owned shipping company to promote trade

• Published The Negro World, a widely circulated newspaper

• Emphasized education and moral character alongside activism

For Week one’s spotlight on Faith, Freedom, and Civil Rights Leadership, we reflect on the lives of Andrew Young, John Lewis, Medgar Evers, and Marcus Garvey—leaders who believed freedom was not only a civic right but a spiritual responsibility. Each, in their own way, answered the call to lead with conviction, courage, and unwavering faith, whether through nonviolent protest, global advocacy, community organizing, or the promotion of dignity and self-determination. Their legacies remind us that true leadership is rooted in service, guided by faith, and committed to the work of justice, and that the pursuit of freedom requires both bold action and steadfast belief.