 ralph david abernathy, sr. (march 11, 1926 â april 17, 1990) was a leader of the american civil rights movement, a minister, and a close associate of martin luther king, jr. in the southern christian leadership conference. following king's assassination, dr. abernathy took up the leadership of the sclc poor people's campaign and led the march on washington, d.c., that had been planned for may 1968. ==early life== ralph abernathy was born march 11, 1926, to w. l. abernathy on the family  farm in linden, alabama. he attended linden academy, a baptist school founded by the first mt. pleasant district association. he was financially supported by his father, who often said: "the bottom rail will come to the top, one day and justice will not always be denied to the colored man." his father taught him, "if you see a good fight, get in it and fight to win it!" at linden academy, david led his first demonstration, to protest the inferior science lab; the school improved the science lab as a result of his persistent actions. during world war ii, he enlisted in the united states army military as ralph david, and rose to the rank of platoon sergeant before earning an honorable discharge as a result of his bout of rheumatic fever in europe. afterwards, he enrolled at alabama state university. he was ordained a baptist minister in 1948, and in 1950 he received a bachelor's degree in mathematics from alabama state university. in 1951, he earned a master of science degree in sociology from atlanta university. he became student body president and class president. he graduated with high honors. while still a college student, he announced his call to the ministry, which he had envisioned since he was a small boy growing up in a devout baptist family. he preached his first sermon on mother's day,
1926_births 1990_deaths 20th-century_African-American_activists African-American_Baptist_ministers African-Americans\'_civil_rights_activists Christian_Peace_Conference_members Clark_Atlanta_University_alumni Martin_Luther_King,_Jr. Nonviolence_advocates People_from_Atlanta,_Georgia People_from_Linden,_Alabama