Isaac W. Williams ( ?-2008) | Road Trip

 

Isaac “Ike” Williams was known as “Mr. NAACP.” for his many leadership roles in the organization.

Williams was born in Charleston and has ten siblings. He was introduced to the NAACP as a youth. While a student at South Carolina State University, he was a leader of the Charleston/Orangeburg statewide desegregation efforts to open public facilities to African Americans.

Williams was the NAACP youth president from 1963 to 1967 and Chairman of the NAACP National Youth Work Committee from 1965 to 1967. He was jailed over 17 times for participating in several sit-ins, kneel-ins, walk-ins and pray-ins.

Williams served as Field Director of the NAACP in South Carolina from 1969 to 1983. He was instrumental in the successful campaign to elect James E. Clyburn to the U.S. House of Representatives.

Williams worked as a district aide to Congressman Clyburn and served as a political commentator and analyst.

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