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An Easy Burden: Living the Civil Rights Movement
Ambassador, Congressman, Mayor, and Civil Rights icon ANDREW J. YOUNG has been serving our country for almost 70 years and was a leader in the Civil Rights movement. With the re-release of his book, An Easy Burden: The Civil Rights Movement and the Transformation of America, Ambassador Young continues to share his message of Civil Rights, humanity, and hope.
Advancing Global Economic Development
Ambassador ANDREW J. YOUNG focuses on the future of doing business domestically and on a global scale, with particular emphasis on opportunities in previously overlooked markets.
A Continuing Legacy
Reflecting on his experiences during the civil rights movement, ANDREW J. YOUNG inspires and challenges audiences to continue to push toward peace and justice throughout the world.
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Civil Rights icon Andrew Young celebrates his 90th birthday and the re-release of his book, An Easy Burden
Ambassador, Congressman, Mayor, and Civil Rights icon ANDREW J. YOUNG is celebrating his 90th birthday and the re-release of his book An Easy Burden: The Civil Rights Movement and the Transformation of America. Ambassador Young has been serving and shaping our country for almost 70 years, and was a leader in the Civil Rights movement working closely with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Considered the diplomat among Dr. King’s community, Ambassador Young remains a powerful voice honoring Dr. King’s legacy and continuing the work of civil and human rights. Originally written almost half a century ago, An Easy Burden chronicles Ambassador Young’s groundbreaking work as a humanitarian and politician, and this updated re-release includes Ambassador Young’s service as Mayor of Atlanta, his entrepreneurship, and impactful community and global efforts. A leader for decades in politics and humanitarianism, he continues to share his message of Civil Rights, humanity, and hope.
Now a Patriarch in the Civil Rights movement, audiences look to Ambassador Young as a powerful voice honoring the legacy of Dr. King’s work and the future of human rights. As the ideology of non-violence and diversity, equity, and inclusion work become part of the ongoing conversation in corporations, communities, and the lives of individuals, audiences have the extraordinary opportunity to hear from someone who lived the Civil Rights movement. With his timeless message of humanity and hope, Ambassador Young shares wisdom that resonates and unifies in a time of division. His impactful keynotes and innovative virtual book signings uplift and inspire audiences of all kinds.
Michael “Killer Mike” Render empowers financial wellness in marginalized communities
Beyond the mic, MICHAEL “KILLER MIKE” RENDER has been a driving force in empowering economic resilience, advocating for financial literacy, and fostering entrepreneurship within marginalized communities. Render paired up with ANDREW YOUNG, a former member of Congress, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, and Mayor of Atlanta, to run Greenwood, a successful Black-owned bank that works to combat systemic racism. Through both direct initiatives like Greenwood and outspoken advocacy, “Killer Mike” is not just making beats – he's making strides towards economic empowerment, proving that financial wellness is a key instrument in the symphony of social progress.
Watch Michael “Killer Mike” Render in conversation at the National Portrait Gallery >>
Watch Michael “Killer Mike” Render speak with Purpose Built Communities >>
Andrew Young made an impact this Black History Month
ANDREW YOUNG has been serving and shaping our country for over 50 years. A former Ambassador to the United Nations, Mayor of Atlanta, and Congressman, Young was an early leader of the Civil Rights Movement and close confidante of Martin Luther King Jr., serving as the Executive Director of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Young’s remarkable life experiences, empowering commentary, and profound insights have had him in-demand as he simultaneously honors the past and looks to the future. This Black History Month he was sought-out to speak at the Huntsville Museum of Art, where his powerful remarks made headlines, the Skirball Cultural Center and Greenvillle Technical College. Young seamlessly integrates his life story into his speeches, leaving audiences both energized and hopeful. His rave reviews, such as the following, speak for themselves: "Your speech was the highlight of the entire event. Your inspiring, informative, challenging and eye-opening remarks not only brought personal value to everyone, but left a positive and lasting impression on all attendees... It's truly a privilege and pleasure to be affiliated with someone who is so passionate about and personally committed to progress and teamwork in diversity."(American Honda Motor Co., Inc.); "His speech and delivery style was awesome. He received a standing ovation when he came up on the stage, several applauses during his speech and an even longer standing ovation after his speech... Ambassador Young is the real deal. He's a humanitarian who genuinely cares about people... We craved his wisdom. He received raves reviews!!!" (Modesto Peace/Life Center)
Ambassador Andrew Young interviewed on the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination
Former Ambassador to the United Nations, Mayor of Atlanta, and Congressman ANDREW YOUNG opened up about his work with Martin Luther King Jr. and what happened the day he was shot in a series of powerful interviews. Sought-out for a special episode of CNN Tonight in honor of the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s death, Andrew Young returned to the Memphis hotel balcony where the civil rights icon was shot, and opened up about his friend and teacher’s legacy. Young shared how he and Dr. King were joking around in the hours before his death, how he rushed to his friend’s side in his final moments, and the pain in calling Coretta Scott King to tell her of the news. Young further discussed the historic moment and Dr. King’s legacy on ABC This Week, touching on the work still left to do in achieving racial equality. Young was an early leader of the Civil Rights Movement, a close confidante of Dr. King’s who served as executive director of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Young’s powerful remarks on the 50th anniversary of the assassination made headlines across major outlets as he remains a powerful voice on civil rights and dismantling racism today. From his recent keynotes at both Auburn University's Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Breakfast as well as the UNCF Black History Month Luncheon, to his role in Paramount’s new documentary “I Am MLK Jr.,” Young is in-demand for his empowering commentary that simultaneously honors the past and shapes the future. Young seamlessly integrates his remarkable life story and experiences into his speeches, leaving audiences both energized and hopeful. Just look at the rave reviews he has received at recent events: "Your speech was the highlight of the entire event. Your inspiring, informative, challenging and eye-opening remarks not only brought personal value to everyone, but left a positive and lasting impression on all attendees... It's truly a privilege and pleasure to be affiliated with someone who is so passionate about and personally committed to progress and teamwork in diversity."(American Honda Motor Co., Inc.); "His speech and delivery style was awesome. He received a standing ovation when he came up on the stage, several applauses during his speech and an even longer standing ovation after his speech... Ambassador Young is the real deal. He's a humanitarian who genuinely cares about people... We craved his wisdom. He received raves reviews!!!" (Modesto Peace/Life Center)
Andrew Young delivers powerful remarks at Martin Luther King Jr. Day event
Selected to keynote both Auburn University's Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Breakfast as well as the UNCF Black History Month Luncheon, civil rights activist and former Mayor of Atlanta ANDREW YOUNG encouraged students to actively create and contribute to environments of communication, inclusion, and respect. Inspiring attendees to get to know people from different backgrounds, to overcome adversity, and to rise to be global leaders, Young's impassioned remarks made headlines in local news. A true icon of the Civil Rights Movement, Young was a close confidant to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and when he was elected to Congress in 1972, was the first African American elected from the South since Reconstruction. He seamlessly integrates his remarkable life story into his bold, empowering and forward-looking remarks, leaving audiences both energized and hopeful. Just look at the rave reviews he has received at recent events: "Your speech was the highlight of the entire event. Your inspiring, informative, challenging and eye-opening remarks not only brought personal value to everyone, but left a positive and lasting impression on all attendees... It's truly a privilege and pleasure to be affiliated with someone who is so passionate about and personally committed to progress and teamwork in diversity."(American Honda Motor Co., Inc.); "His speech and delivery style was awesome. He received a standing ovation when he came up on the stage, several applauses during his speech and an even longer standing ovation after his speech... Ambassador Young is the real deal. He's a humanitarian who genuinely cares about people... We craved his wisdom. He received raves reviews!!!" (Modesto Peace/Life Center)
Andrew J. Young heard the call to service as a young man. He has lived his life in response to that call, from his ordination as a minister, to his work on behalf of civil and human rights, to his public service career as a member of Congress, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, and Mayor of Atlanta. The Andrew Young Foundation builds on his legacy by developing and nurturing new generations of innovative leaders to tackle this era’s global challenges.
Andrew Young was born in 1932 in New Orleans. Raised in a middle-class family – his father was a dentist, his mother a teacher – Young was forced to travel from his own neighborhood in order to attend segregated schools. He excelled as a student and entered college early, graduating from Howard University in 1951 at 19 years of age. He became an ordained minister after graduating from Hartford Theological Seminary in 1955 and took a job as a pastor in Thomasville, Georgia. It was during his time in South Georgia that Young first became active in the Civil Rights movement. He organized voter registration drives in the African-American community, enduring death threats along the way.
In 1957, Young moved with his wife, Jean Childs Young, to New York City to work with the Youth Division of the National Council of Churches. He returned to Georgia in 1961 to lead the Southern Christian Leadership Conference’s (SCLC) “citizenship schools,” working closely with Dr. King to teach non-violent organizing strategies. Within the SCLC, Young organized desegregation efforts throughout the South, including the May 1963 march in Birmingham where participants were viscously attacked by police dogs. King often entrusted Young to oversee the SCLC when King spent time in jail after protests. Young was a key strategist and negotiator during civil rights campaigns that led to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
In 1970, Young left the Southern Christian Leadership Conference to run for Congress. He lost his first race, but two years later became the first African-American representative from the Deep South since Reconstruction. He served on the Banking and Urban Affairs and Rules Committees, sponsoring legislation that established a U.S. Institute for Peace, The African Development Bank and the Chattahoochee River National Park, while negotiating federal funds for MARTA (Metro Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority), the Atlanta highway system and a new international airport for Atlanta.
In 1977, President Carter appointed Young to serve as the nation’s first African-American Ambassador to the United Nations. As Ambassador, Young negotiated an end to white-minority rule in Namibia and Zimbabwe and brought President Carter’s emphasis on human rights to international diplomacy efforts.
In 1981, Young was elected Mayor of Atlanta in 1981, where, as he liked to say, the mayor had once had him thrown in jail. He was re-elected in 1985 with nearly 80 percent of the vote and in 1988 Atlanta hosted the Democratic National Convention. His tenure corresponded with a recession and a reduction in federal funds for cities. He turned to international markets for investments in Atlanta, attracting 1,100 new businesses, $70 billion in investment, and 1 million new jobs to the region. He developed public-private partnerships to leverage public dollars for the preservation of Zoo Atlanta.
Young led the successful effort to bring the Centennial Olympic Games to Atlanta in 1996. As Co-Chair of the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games, he oversaw the largest Olympic Games in history in terms of numbers of participating countries, competing athletes and the number of spectators. He was awarded the Olympic Order, the highest award of the Olympic Movement. President Bill Clinton appointed him founding chair of the Southern African Enterprise Development Fund.
In 2000 and 2001, he served as president of the National Council of Churches. In 2003, he founded the Andrew J. Young Foundation to support and promote education, health, leadership and human rights in the U.S., Africa, and the Caribbean. Andrew Young Presents, the Emmy-nominated, nationally syndicated series of specials produced by Ambassador Young through the Andrew J. Young Foundation, Inc. is seen in nearly 100 American markets and worldwide through the American Forces Network. Its first episode was drawn from the documentary film Rwanda Rising, about Rwanda’s progress since the genocide of 1994.Young narrated the film. Ambassador Young retired from GoodWorks International, LLC, in 2012 after well over a decade of facilitating sustainable economic development in the business sectors of the Caribbean and Africa.
He has shared his life’s work in books including A Way Out of No Way: The Spiritual Memoirs of Andrew Young, An Easy Burden: The Civil Rights Movement and the Transformation of America, and Walk in My Shoes: Conversations between a Civil Rights Legend and his Godson on the Journey Ahead, which was co-authored by Kabir Sehgal.
Ambassador Young has received honorary degrees from more than 100 universities and colleges in the U.S. and abroad. President Jimmy Carter awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and France awarded him the Legion d’Honneur, each representing the highest civilian honor for that particular nation. He has received the NAACP’s Springarn Medal. In 2011 he received an Emmy Lifetime Achievement award, and is portrait became part of the permanent collection of the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery. He serves on a number of boards, including: the Martin Luther King Center for Non-Violent Social Change, Barrick Gold, the United Nations Foundation, the Atlanta Falcons, the Andrew Young School for Policy Studies at Georgia State University, and Morehouse College.
My Speaker List
