Andrew Young

Andrew Young
Born	Andrew Jackson Young Jr. 12 3, 1932
Birthplace	New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, diplomat, activist, pastor
Known for	Civil rights leadership, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Mayor of Atlanta
Education	Hartford Seminary (BDiv)
Children	4
Awards	Presidential Medal of Freedom, French Legion of Honor, Four Freedoms Award

Andrew Jackson Young Jr. (born March 12, 1932) is an American politician, diplomat, activist, and pastor whose career has spanned some of the most consequential chapters in modern American history. Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, Young rose to national prominence as a central figure in the civil rights movement, serving as executive director of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and as one of the closest confidants of Martin Luther King Jr. His subsequent career in public service saw him become the first African American elected to the United States Congress from Georgia since Reconstruction, as well as one of the first two African Americans elected to Congress from the former Confederacy since that era. Young went on to serve as the 14th United States Ambassador to the United Nations under President Jimmy Carter and as the 55th Mayor of Atlanta, guiding the city through a period of significant economic growth and international recognition. Since leaving elected office, Young has continued to work on issues of public policy, international development, and civil rights, founding and serving in numerous organizations. In 2026, at age 93, he remains an active voice on matters of civil liberties and social justice, recently reflecting publicly on the legacy of fellow civil rights leader Jesse Jackson.

Early Life

Andrew Jackson Young Jr. was born on March 12, 1932, in New Orleans, Louisiana. He grew up in a middle-class African American family in the Jim Crow South. His father, Andrew Jackson Young Sr., was a dentist, and the family lived in a racially mixed neighborhood in New Orleans. Despite the relative economic stability of his household compared to many African American families of the era, Young experienced the pervasive racial segregation and discrimination that defined life in the American South during the 1930s and 1940s.

Young's upbringing instilled in him a strong sense of discipline and ambition. His father emphasized self-reliance and education as pathways to overcoming the barriers imposed by racial segregation. Young grew up attending church regularly, and the African American church tradition would later become a foundational element of both his personal faith and his approach to social activism.

As a young man, Young was drawn to questions of justice and equality, influences that would shape his decision to enter the ministry and, subsequently, the civil rights movement. His experiences growing up in the segregated South provided him with firsthand knowledge of the systemic inequalities that the movement would seek to dismantle.

Education

Young began his higher education at Dillard University in New Orleans before transferring to Howard University in Washington, D.C., where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree. His time at Howard, one of the nation's most prominent historically black colleges and universities, exposed him to a broader intellectual and political community of African American scholars and activists.

Following his undergraduate studies, Young pursued theological training at the Hartford Seminary (then known as the Hartford Theological Seminary) in Hartford, Connecticut, where he earned a Bachelor of Divinity degree. His seminary education deepened his commitment to the Social Gospel tradition, which emphasizes the application of Christian ethics to social problems including poverty, inequality, and injustice. This theological grounding became central to Young's philosophy of nonviolent social change and informed his work throughout the civil rights movement and his later political career.

Career

Ministry and Early Civil Rights Work

After completing his theological studies at Hartford Seminary, Young was ordained as a minister in the United Church of Christ. He served as a pastor in several congregations in the South, where he combined his ministerial duties with growing involvement in the struggle for racial equality. His pastoral work brought him into direct contact with the everyday realities of segregation and discrimination facing African Americans in the region, reinforcing his determination to work for social change.

Young's entry into the organized civil rights movement came through his association with the National Council of Churches, which was involved in voter registration and other civil rights initiatives in the South. His organizational abilities and commitment to nonviolent protest drew the attention of the leadership of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), the organization co-founded by Martin Luther King Jr.

Southern Christian Leadership Conference

Young joined the SCLC and quickly became one of its most important leaders. He served as executive director of the organization, playing a critical role in planning and executing many of the movement's most significant campaigns. In this capacity, Young was involved in organizing demonstrations, negotiating with local and federal officials, and helping to develop the strategic direction of the movement.

Young became one of Martin Luther King Jr.'s closest advisors and confidants. He participated in many of the landmark events of the civil rights era, including the campaigns in Birmingham, Selma, and St. Augustine. Young was known within the movement for his skill as a negotiator and mediator, often serving as a bridge between the SCLC and white business and political leaders. His ability to communicate across racial lines and to find common ground made him an invaluable asset to the movement's efforts to achieve desegregation and voting rights.

Young was present at many of the defining moments of the civil rights movement. He was a key figure in the events leading up to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, both of which represented landmark legislative achievements for the movement. He was also present at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 4, 1968, when Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated.

The loss of King was a profound personal and professional blow to Young, but he continued his work with the SCLC and increasingly turned his attention to electoral politics as a means of advancing the goals of the civil rights movement.

United States Congress

In 1972, Andrew Young was elected to the United States House of Representatives, representing Georgia's 5th congressional district, which included most of Atlanta. His election was historic: he became the first African American elected to Congress from Georgia since Reconstruction, and one of the first two African Americans elected to Congress from the former Confederacy since that era.

Young served two terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, from January 3, 1973, to January 29, 1977. He succeeded Fletcher Thompson in the seat and was succeeded by Wyche Fowler. During his time in Congress, Young focused on issues of civil rights, economic development, and foreign policy. He was a member of the Democratic Party and aligned himself with the progressive wing of the party on most issues.

As a congressman, Young developed a relationship with fellow Georgia Democrat Jimmy Carter, who was elected Governor of Georgia in 1970 and subsequently ran for president in 1976. Young was an early and prominent supporter of Carter's presidential campaign, and his endorsement was considered significant in helping Carter build support among African American voters and within the broader Democratic coalition.

United States Ambassador to the United Nations

Following Jimmy Carter's election as president in 1976, Young was appointed as the 14th United States Ambassador to the United Nations, a position he held from January 30, 1977, to September 23, 1979. He succeeded William Scranton in the role and was succeeded by Donald McHenry.

As U.N. Ambassador, Young brought a distinctive perspective shaped by his civil rights background. He was particularly focused on U.S. relations with Africa and the developing world, advocating for a more engaged and empathetic American foreign policy toward Third World nations. Young sought to reorient U.S. policy away from what he viewed as an excessive focus on Cold War alignments and toward greater attention to issues of human rights, economic development, and self-determination.

Young's tenure at the United Nations was marked by both significant achievements and controversy. He was credited with improving U.S. relations with several African nations and with bringing greater attention to issues of racial justice on the international stage. His outspoken style and willingness to engage with leaders and movements that were controversial in the context of U.S. foreign policy sometimes put him at odds with other members of the Carter administration and with congressional critics.

Young's ambassadorship came to an abrupt end in August 1979, when it was revealed that he had conducted an unauthorized meeting with a representative of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), at a time when U.S. policy prohibited official contact with the PLO. The disclosure led to Young's resignation on September 23, 1979. The incident generated significant public debate about U.S. Middle East policy and about the constraints placed on diplomats in addressing complex international conflicts.

Mayor of Atlanta

After leaving the United Nations, Young returned to Atlanta and entered local politics. In 1981, he was elected the 55th Mayor of Atlanta, succeeding Maynard Jackson, who was Atlanta's first African American mayor. Young took office on January 4, 1982, and served two terms, leaving office on January 2, 1990. He was succeeded by Maynard Jackson, who returned for a third term.

Young's tenure as mayor was characterized by an emphasis on economic development and the internationalization of Atlanta. He worked to attract foreign investment and international business to the city, positioning Atlanta as a major hub for global commerce. Under his leadership, Atlanta pursued and ultimately won the bid to host the 1996 Summer Olympics, a process that began during Young's time in office and that would transform the city's infrastructure and international profile.

Young focused on public-private partnerships as a mechanism for economic growth, working with the city's business community to promote development projects. His approach to governance emphasized pragmatic coalition-building, drawing on his experience as a negotiator during the civil rights movement. He sought to maintain Atlanta's reputation as a city that managed racial transition more successfully than many other Southern cities, though his administration also faced criticism from some quarters regarding issues of equity and the distribution of economic benefits.

During his time as mayor, Young also continued to be involved in national and international affairs, leveraging his diplomatic experience and his extensive network of contacts to promote Atlanta's interests on the global stage.

Post-Mayoral Career

After leaving the mayor's office in 1990, Young remained active in public life. He made a bid for the Democratic nomination for Governor of Georgia in 1990 but was unsuccessful in that campaign.

Young subsequently founded GoodWorks International, a consulting firm focused on facilitating economic development and investment in Africa and the Caribbean. Through this organization, Young worked to promote trade and investment relationships between the United States and developing nations, drawing on his experience as U.N. Ambassador and his extensive international contacts.

Young has also been involved with numerous other organizations and initiatives. Georgia State University named its Andrew Young School of Policy Studies in his honor, recognizing his contributions to public policy and public service. In January 2026, the Andrew Young School unveiled a new strategic plan aimed at shaping policy education for the digital era, further extending Young's legacy in the field of public policy education.

Young has served on numerous corporate and nonprofit boards throughout his post-government career and has remained a sought-after speaker and commentator on issues of civil rights, international relations, and public policy.

Personal Life

Andrew Young has four children. He has been married multiple times over the course of his life. His first wife, Jean Childs Young, was a fellow civil rights activist and educator who worked alongside him during the movement. Jean Childs Young passed away in 1994.

Young has maintained his residence in Atlanta, Georgia, the city with which he is most closely identified and where he has spent the majority of his professional life. He has remained connected to the faith community throughout his life, with his identity as an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ remaining a central part of his public persona.

As of February 2026, Young, at age 93, continues to make public appearances and to comment on contemporary issues. He participated in a Black History Month event in February 2026, where he reflected on the death of fellow civil rights leader Jesse Jackson and warned that liberties won during the 20th century are under threat. Young stated that "freedom is not free" and called attention to the importance of remembering the sacrifices of the civil rights era.

In a PBS interview, Young reflected on his friendship and partnership with Jesse Jackson, offering personal recollections of their shared work during the civil rights movement. He remarked, "We're running out of people like that now," underscoring his concern about the passing of the generation that led the civil rights movement.

Recognition

Andrew Young has received numerous awards and honors throughout his career in recognition of his contributions to civil rights, public service, and international diplomacy.

Young was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States, in recognition of his service to the nation. He has also received the French Legion of Honor, one of France's highest distinctions, for his work in international relations and human rights.

Young received the Four Freedoms Award from the Roosevelt Institute, which recognizes individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to the ideals articulated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in his famous Four Freedoms speech.

In January 2026, the New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) honored Young with a free poster distributed to schools in celebration of Black History Month, describing him as "a pioneering American politician, diplomat and" civil rights leader.

Georgia State University's Andrew Young School of Policy Studies stands as an institutional tribute to his contributions to public policy. An extensive timeline of Young's life and career is maintained by the university, documenting his many achievements and contributions.

Young has been the subject of numerous profiles in major media outlets, including The New York Times and Time magazine, which included him in its coverage of significant American political figures.

Young has also been featured in The HistoryMakers and other oral history projects documenting the civil rights movement and African American leadership.

Legacy

Andrew Young's legacy encompasses his roles as a civil rights leader, congressman, diplomat, and mayor. His career bridged the transition from the direct action phase of the civil rights movement to the era of African American electoral politics, and he was instrumental in demonstrating that the skills and networks developed during the movement could be translated into effective governance and diplomacy.

As one of Martin Luther King Jr.'s closest associates, Young helped shape the strategy and tactics of the nonviolent movement that dismantled legal segregation in the United States. His particular contribution lay in his ability to negotiate and mediate, skills that proved essential in achieving the legislative victories of the 1960s and that he carried into his subsequent political career.

Young's election to Congress in 1972 represented a breakthrough in Southern politics, demonstrating that an African American candidate could win a congressional seat in the Deep South for the first time since Reconstruction. His service as U.N. Ambassador brought a civil rights perspective to American foreign policy and helped reshape U.S. engagement with Africa and the developing world.

As mayor of Atlanta, Young oversaw a period of economic growth and international engagement that helped transform the city into a major national and global center. The successful pursuit of the 1996 Olympics, which began during his administration, remains one of the most visible legacies of his time as mayor.

In February 2026, Young continued to serve as a living link to the civil rights movement, participating in public events and offering his perspective on contemporary challenges. At a Black History Month gathering, he reflected on the passing of Jesse Jackson and emphasized the ongoing importance of the freedoms achieved during the civil rights era, warning that such freedoms require continued vigilance.

Young's influence extends through the institutions that bear his name, including Georgia State University's Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, and through the many leaders and organizations he has mentored and supported over the course of more than six decades of public service. In February 2026, he was featured as a headline participant in "When HIStory Was Watching," an event organized by The Legacy Line that brought together civil rights figures and announced partnerships with the families of Martin Luther King Jr. and Medgar Evers.