WELCOME TO

A. PHILIP RANDOLPH INSTITUTE

Houston-Tidelands Chapter

“Empowering Youth. Honoring Legacy. Building the Future"

Our Mission

Rooted in the enduring legacy of A. Philip Randolph, we champion equity, education, and the dignity of work. The A. Philip Randolph Institute builds bridges across communities to promote social programs that uplift minorities, low-income families, and working people. We are proud to advance trade unionism, fair representation, and worker rights—while also investing in future leaders through youth empowerment programs, scholarships, and fundraising efforts that open doors for students to rise, lead, and thrive.

Philip Randolph was a towering figure in American history—an architect of both the labor and civil rights movements whose legacy still shapes justice work today.

In 1925, Randolph founded the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, the first major Black labor union in the U.S..

After years of organizing, the union won a contract with the Pullman Company in 1937, securing better wages and working conditions.

Became one of the first Black vice presidents of the AFL-CIO in 1957.

In 1941, Randolph threatened a mass march on Washington to protest discrimination in defense industries. This led President Roosevelt to issue Executive Order 8802, banning such discrimination. In 1948, his pressure helped desegregate the U.S. military under President Truman.

Co-organized the 1963 March on Washington, where Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech.

In 1965, Randolph co-founded the A. Philip Randolph Institute with Bayard Rustin to unite labor and civil rights efforts. He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1964 and retired from public life in 1968.

Passed away in 1979 at age 90, leaving behind a legacy of courage, strategy, and unwavering commitment to justice.

A. PHILIP RANDOLPH INSTITUTE

HOUSTON- TIDELANDS CHAPTER

“The Crew at Work—Building Legacy, Lifting Community.”