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Reverend '''Abraham Lincoln Woods, Jr''' (died [[November 7]], [[2008]]) was an African American minister, history professor, president of the [[Birmingham Chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference]], and a [[civil rights movement|civil rights]] activist and organizer who continued to preach and to press for human rights well into his retirement. | Reverend '''Abraham Lincoln Woods, Jr''' (born [[October 7]], [[1928]] in [[Birmingham]] - died [[November 7]], [[2008]] in Birmingham) was an African American minister, history professor, president of the [[Birmingham Chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference]], and a [[civil rights movement|civil rights]] activist and organizer who continued to preach and to press for human rights well into his retirement. | ||
Woods received his Bachelor of Theology from [[Birmingham Baptist College]]. a Bachelor of Sociology from [[Miles College]], and a Doctorate in History from the [[University of Alabama]]. He began preaching at age 22 and served for thirteen years at [[First Metropolitan Baptist Church]] and then thirty-seven years at [[St Joseph Baptist Church]] in [[West End]]. He taught history at Miles College for 41 years. | Woods received his Bachelor of Theology from [[Birmingham Baptist College]]. a Bachelor of Sociology from [[Miles College]], and a Doctorate in History from the [[University of Alabama]]. He began preaching at age 22 and served for thirteen years at [[First Metropolitan Baptist Church]] and then thirty-seven years at [[St Joseph Baptist Church]] in [[West End]]. He taught history at Miles College for 41 years. | ||
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Revision as of 15:09, 8 November 2008
Reverend Abraham Lincoln Woods, Jr (born October 7, 1928 in Birmingham - died November 7, 2008 in Birmingham) was an African American minister, history professor, president of the Birmingham Chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and a civil rights activist and organizer who continued to preach and to press for human rights well into his retirement.
Woods received his Bachelor of Theology from Birmingham Baptist College. a Bachelor of Sociology from Miles College, and a Doctorate in History from the University of Alabama. He began preaching at age 22 and served for thirteen years at First Metropolitan Baptist Church and then thirty-seven years at St Joseph Baptist Church in West End. He taught history at Miles College for 41 years.
He became a charter member and Vice-President of the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights in 1956, assisting Fred Shuttlesworth in organizing protests and challenges to Birmingham's segregation laws. He was a member of the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights' central committee that planned the 1963 Birmingham Campaign led by Martin Luther King, Jr. He stood behind King during his "I Have a Dream" speech in Washington D. C. later that year.
Woods later led campaigns to register voters at Miles College, was Deputy Director for the Southeast historical March on Washington, and, from 1978 until his retirement was president of the Birmingham SCLC. In 1979 he was instrumental in laying the groundwork for Richard Arrington's first mayoral campaign and marched with Arrington in 1991 to protest a federal investigation of City Hall. He helped with Jesse Jackson's 1984 presidential bid and was a leader in efforts to desegregate Shoal Creek.
In recent years, Woods fought to reopen the investigation into the 1963 church bombing at 16th Street Baptist Church and has been instrumental in establishing the Civil Rights Institute. He was the principal organizer of the annual Martin Luther King, Jr Unity Breakfast and Martin Luther King Day celebration and gun buy-back program.
Woods died at Princeton Baptist Medical Center in November 2008 after an extended illness.
Reference
- Floyd, Shirley Gavin. (Spring 2006). "Spotlight: Dr. Abraham Lincoln Woods, Jr." The Foot Soldier Informer.