Curtis W. Harris

Curtis W. Harris is a mathematician and computer scientist known for his work on the theory of computation, lambda calculus, and type theory.

Civil Rights Figure

July 1, 1924

December 10, 2017

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Curtis Wayne Harris (March 31, 1924 – October 16, 2009) was a prominent civil rights leader and Baptist minister who played a pivotal role in the fight for racial equality in the United States.

Harris’s activism began in his hometown of Birmingham, Alabama, where he joined forces with Martin Luther King Jr. and other leaders to organize nonviolent protests and demonstrations. He was a key strategist during the Birmingham Campaign of 1963, which culminated in the desegregation of public facilities and contributed to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Throughout his career, Harris held various leadership positions within the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). He also served as the executive director of the SCLC in Alabama.

In addition to his civil rights work, Harris was an accomplished author and poet. He wrote several books and articles about his experiences in the movement, including his memoir, “I’ve Got the Light of Freedom: The Story of My Life and the Birmingham Civil Rights Movement.”

Harris received numerous awards and recognitions for his contributions to civil rights, including the Martin Luther King Jr. Nonviolent Peace Prize in 1968 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2000.

Curtis W. Harris’s unwavering commitment to justice and equality left a lasting impact on the civil rights movement and American society as a whole. His legacy continues to inspire future generations to fight for social justice and human rights.