howard thurman (1899-1981)
Birthplace: Daytona Beach, Florida
Important Work: Jesus and the Disinherited (1949)
Excerpt from her book: "He [Jesus] was a member of a minority group. He lived in a country that was occupied by a foreign power. He was a poor Jew, living in a land controlled by the Romans."
life & impact
Howard Thurman was born in 1899 in Daytona Beach, Florida. Growing up in the South, he saw the struggles of Black Americans and wanted to help make the world a better place. He was a deep thinker, a minister, and a writer who believed in the power of love and faith to bring people together. He was one of the first Black men to meet with Mahatma Gandhi in India, where he learned about nonviolent resistance. This idea later influenced the Civil Rights Movement in the United States.
Thurman’s most famous book, Jesus and the Disinherited, was about how Jesus' message gave hope to people who were poor and oppressed. He believed that love and inner strength could help people overcome racism and injustice. His ideas inspired many leaders, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who carried a copy of Thurman’s book with him during the Civil Rights Movement. Thurman’s teachings encouraged people to fight for freedom without using violence.
Throughout his life, Thurman worked as a pastor, teacher, and mentor to many future civil rights leaders. He helped start the first interracial church in the United States and spent his life promoting peace, equality, and understanding. His words still inspire people today to stand up for justice and to lead with kindness and courage.