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Abstract
Whitney Young was a social worker and civil rights leader who gained prominence in the 1960s for transforming the National Urban League into a vibrant civil rights organization. Young drowned tragically while attending a conference in Nigeria in 1971. This year marks the 50th anniversary of his untimely death at the age of 49. Young was the Dean of the School of Social Work at Atlanta University and the president of the National Association of Social Workers. As the leader of the Urban League, he served as an advisor to President John F. Kennedy, President Lyndon B. Johnson, and President Richard M. Nixon. He had a significant impact on public policy. Young left a strong legacy in education, civil rights, and urban renewal.