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Fred Shuttlesworth
Ralph Abernathy was an activist and leader in the civil rights movement. He worked closely with Dr. King on multiple campaigns for racial equality. A fellow Christian minister and member of the SCLC, he worked alongside Dr. King toward change in the 1950s and ’60s. In 1963, he was heavily involved in the Birmingham campaign for desegregation. He and Dr. King were the first ones to practice civil disobedience after a court order demanding that the movement stop all demonstrations.
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Ralph Abernathy Character Timeline in Why We Can’t Wait
The timeline below shows where the character Ralph Abernathy appears in Why We Can’t Wait. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 3: Bull Connor’s Birmingham
...the coming months. Dr. King traveled with his executive assistant, Wyatt Walker, and friend Ralph Abernathy. Together with other leaders, they tried to decide when would be the best time to...
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Chapter 4: New Day in Birmingham
...Dr. King and his associates held nightly meetings with the Black community. Leaders like Ralph Abernathy and Wyatt Walker spoke at these meetings, as did Dr. King. The gatherings were an...
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Dr. King, Shuttlesworth, and Abernathy made it very clear to volunteers that they were only welcome in the movement if...
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Dr. King and Ralph Abernathy planned to be the first ones to practice civil disobedience. The plan was for them...
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Dr. King asked Abernathy to join him, and Abernathy didn’t hesitate. The next day, they marched from Zion Hill...
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In jail, Dr. King and Abernathy were separated. Dr. King was put into solitary confinement, where he stayed for more than...
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Chapter 6: Black and White Together
After eight days in jail, Dr. King and Abernathy were released on bail. They accepted bail so that Dr. King could reconnect with the...
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