Uploaded August 2024 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Civil rights leader Andrew Young recounts his experiences working alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr in this interview with Life Stories. The former small-town preacher explains how he connected with one of history's most influential leaders, and highlights the profound impact each of their wives had on their mission. He also discusses how his work with the National Council of Churches shaped his dedication to the movement and the critical decisions that led him to join King in the South. Young's narrative offers personal insights into both the Civil Rights Movement and MLK while sharing valuable lessons on leadership, resilience, and the power of community.
Andrew Jackson Young Jr. was born on March 12, 1932, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Young is an American politician, diplomat, and activist. He became active in politics, serving first as a U.S. Congressman from Georgia, then as the United States Ambassador to the United Nations, and finally as the Mayor of Atlanta. Since leaving political office, Young has founded or served in numerous organizations working on issues of public policy and political lobbying.
From the HBO / Kunhardt Film Foundation (KFF) Documentary “King in the Wilderness” that follows Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during the last years of his life: from the passage of the Voting Rights Act in 1965 to his assassination in 1968, through personal stories of the people who were around him.
Subscribe for access to interviews, series, films, and educational materials that address issues of social justice, history, politics, the arts, and culture by spotlighting relatable human stories of purpose and meaning. Learn about our work and how to support our mission here: lifestories.org/. For extended versions of these interviews and more, visit: youtube.com/@lifestoriesinterviewarchive
Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/lifestoriesdotorg
Chapter Markers:
00:00:37 - Meeting Dr. King
00:01:56 - Upbringing
00:03:29 - Their wives’ courage
00:04:40 - National Council of Churches’ Work
00:07:50 - Working with SCLC
00:09:20 - The Nobel Peace prize
00:10:35 - Working with President Johnson
00:13:14 - Evolution of “The Movement”
00:14:18 - Challenges of leadership
00:16:59 - Dr. King’s sense of humor
00:18:38 - Dr. King’s perspective on dying
00:21:38 - Final memory of Dr. King
Andrew Young, Executive Director, SCLC
Interviewed By: Taylor Branch
Interview Date: April 13, 2017
© Home Box Office and Kunhardt Film Foundation. All Rights Reserved.
#AndrewYoungInterview #kunhardtfilmfoundation
Civil rights leader Andrew Young recounts his experiences working alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr in this interview with Life Stories. The former small-town preacher explains how he connected with one of history's most influential leaders, and highlights the profound impact each of their wives had on their mission. He also discusses how his work with the National Council of Churches shaped his dedication to the movement and the critical decisions that led him to join King in the South. Young's narrative offers personal insights into both the Civil Rights Movement and MLK while sharing valuable lessons on leadership, resilience, and the power of community.
Andrew Jackson Young Jr. was born on March 12, 1932, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Young is an American politician, diplomat, and activist. He became active in politics, serving first as a U.S. Congressman from Georgia, then as the United States Ambassador to the United Nations, and finally as the Mayor of Atlanta. Since leaving political office, Young has founded or served in numerous organizations working on issues of public policy and political lobbying.
From the HBO / Kunhardt Film Foundation (KFF) Documentary “King in the Wilderness” that follows Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during the last years of his life: from the passage of the Voting Rights Act in 1965 to his assassination in 1968, through personal stories of the people who were around him.
Subscribe for access to interviews, series, films, and educational materials that address issues of social justice, history, politics, the arts, and culture by spotlighting relatable human stories of purpose and meaning. Learn about our work and how to support our mission here: lifestories.org/. For extended versions of these interviews and more, visit: youtube.com/@lifestoriesinterviewarchive
Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/lifestoriesdotorg
Chapter Markers:
00:00:37 - Meeting Dr. King
00:01:56 - Upbringing
00:03:29 - Their wives’ courage
00:04:40 - National Council of Churches’ Work
00:07:50 - Working with SCLC
00:09:20 - The Nobel Peace prize
00:10:35 - Working with President Johnson
00:13:14 - Evolution of “The Movement”
00:14:18 - Challenges of leadership
00:16:59 - Dr. King’s sense of humor
00:18:38 - Dr. King’s perspective on dying
00:21:38 - Final memory of Dr. King
Andrew Young, Executive Director, SCLC
Interviewed By: Taylor Branch
Interview Date: April 13, 2017
© Home Box Office and Kunhardt Film Foundation. All Rights Reserved.
#AndrewYoungInterview #kunhardtfilmfoundation
