Basic Information
Name: Ralph David Abernathy
Nickname: Reverend Ralph
Born: March 11, 1926
Died: April 17, 1990
Nationality: American
Hometown: Linden, Alabama
WORK & EDUCATION
Occupation: Clergyman, Civil Rights Leader
Education: BS in Mathematics from Alabama State College, MA in sociology from Atlanta University
FAMILY & FRIENDS
Parents: William L. Abernathy, Louivery Valentine Bell Abernathy
Spouse: Juanita Jones Abernathy
Children: Ralph David Abernathy Jr., Juandalynn Ralpheda, Donzaleigh Avis, Ralph David Abernathy III, and Kwame Luthuli Abernathy
Friends: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Stanley Levinson, Clarence Jones
Foes: Eugene "Bull" Connor, the KKK and White Citizens' Councils, hate and injustice everywhere.
Analysis
Ralph Abernathy was Dr. King's mentor, advisor, assistant, and best friend. Oh, and his co-rebel with a cause, as he was arrested with Dr. King at the same time during the Birmingham campaign.
But way before that, he started the Montgomery Improvement Association and the SCLC with Dr. King. They were a dynamic duo—like Batman and Robin, but without the Batmobile. Or the bat-cave. Or… okay, so they were nothing like Batman and Robin, but they were equally as awesome.
During the course of the Civil Rights Movement, they worked together and suffered together. Like Dr. King, Abernathy's home was bombed. And the two got arrested 17 times side by side. If that's not a sign of a true friendship, we don't know what is. (Uh, P.S. we don't advocate for getting arrested with your friends. Just to clear that up.)
After Dr. King's death, Abernathy became president of the SCLC and led the Poor People's Campaign that they had planned together. But the organization and the movement were never the same, and both Abernathy and the SCLC eventually faded from public attention.
Robin without Batman just isn't as effective.