On this date, in 1918, M. Carl Holman was born. He was a Black civil rights leader and administrator.
Holman was born in Minter City, MS. He graduated magna cum laude from Lincoln University in Jefferson City, MO. He received an M.A. from the University of Chicago in 1944 and earned a master of fine arts degree from Yale University in 1954. While a faculty member in English and humanities at Clark College in Atlanta, he joined students in founding the Black journal, "The Atlanta Inquirer," in 1960. Two years later, Holman joined the United States Commission on Civil Rights staff, rising to deputy staff director in 1966. Two years later, he became vice president of programs at the National Urban Coalition, formed after the inner-city race riots of 1967.
While serving as the organization's president, Holman advocated programs in housing, education, employment opportunities, job training, and economic development. He forged connections between Black and Hispanic communities and was an influential organizer and meeting planner. During the 1980s, he actively developed programs to help minority and female children develop scientific, mathematical and computer skills. M. Carl Holman died in Washington, D.C., on August 9, 1988.
