THE MAN

Whitney M. Young, Jr. was one of the most celebrated - and controversial - leaders of the civil rights era. As head of the National Urban League, he helped thousands of people struggling against discrimination. Unique among black leaders, he took the fight directly to the powerful white elite, gaining allies in business and government, including three presidents. He was the man working behind the scenes, shaking the right hands, making the right deals, and opening the doors of opportunity for all Americans.

THE DOCUMENTARY

The Powerbroker follows Whitney Young's journey from segregated Kentucky to the national campaign for equal rights. During the turbulent 60s, he was a dilpomat between those in power and those striving for change. Young had the difficult tasks of calming the fears of white allies, relieving the doubts of fellow civil rights leaders, and responding to attacks from the militant black power movement. This complex tale explores the public and private trials of the man at the center of the storm.

THE LEGACY

Whitney Young’s greatest gift is his own example. Young was a passionate, patient and pragmatic leader, a model for those navigating today’s divisive times. The Whitney Moore Young Leadership Development Project passes the torch of Whitney Young's unique leadership philosophy to new generation of students, scholars and activists.