Marian Wright Edelman

1993 Solomon Carter Fuller Award Recipient

No Lecture Was Given

Mrs. Edelman is a prominent American advocate for civil rights and children's rights, renowned as the founder and president emerita of the Children's Defense Fund. Her influence has resonated deeply, impacting leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr. In recent decades, she has emerged as a formidable voice for the nation's youth, particularly impoverished children. In her recent best-selling book, The Measure of Our Success, she highlights the alarming projection that one in every four children could live in poverty by the end of the century if current trends persist. Her steadfast commitment has garnered widespread attention and support from leaders across the country.

Growing up as the fifth child of a Baptist preacher in the segregated environment of Bennettsville, South Carolina, Mrs. Edelman was instilled with values of academic excellence and community service from an early age. While attending Spelman College, a prestigious liberal arts institution for Black women in Atlanta, she actively participated in the early sit-ins of 1960 and volunteered at the local NAACP office. Recognizing the movement's need for legal support, she pursued a law degree at Yale Law School, becoming the first Black woman admitted to the Mississippi bar.

In 1964, Mrs. Edelman established a branch of the NAACP legal defense office in Jackson, Mississippi, where she witnessed firsthand the dire conditions faced by impoverished communities. Her impassioned testimony at U.S. Senate hearings in 1967 compelled senators to confront the harsh realities of poverty in the Deep South. This experience ignited Mrs. Edelman's lifelong dedication to advocating for marginalized communities, particularly disadvantaged children. In recognition of her tireless advocacy and significant contributions, Mrs. Edelman was honored with the Solomon Carter Fuller Award in 1993.