White, Walter Francis

1893-1955 · Contribution: 1918-1955

Law & Civil Rights

Led the NAACP as executive secretary for 24 years; personally investigated more than 40 lynchings and 8 race riots undercover, using his light complexion to pass as white at grave personal risk

Law & Civil Rights: collage image
Law & Civil Rights

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Quick facts

Born
1893-1955
Category
Law & Civil Rights

Impact on the world

White risked his life to expose lynching and then led the NAACP through the pivotal decades that built the legal foundation for the civil-rights revolution.

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