C. T. Vivian

C. T. Vivian
Born	Cordy Tindell Vivian (1924-07-30)July 30, 1924 Boonville, Missouri, U.S.
Died	July 17, 2020(2020-07-17) (aged 95) Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Minister, Author, Civil Rights Activist
Known for	Civil Rights Movement

Cordy Tindell Vivian (July 30, 1924 – July 17, 2020) was an American minister, author, and prominent civil rights leader. He was a close friend and lieutenant of Martin Luther King Jr. during the Civil Rights Movement and played a pivotal role in the struggle for racial equality in the United States.

Early Life and Education

C. T. Vivian was born in Boonville, Missouri, and raised in Macomb, Illinois. He attended Western Illinois University, where he became involved in the civil rights movement. His early activism included participating in sit-ins and other forms of nonviolent protest.

Civil Rights Activism

Vivian's activism began in the 1940s, but he became nationally recognized in the 1960s. He was a member of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), an organization founded by Martin Luther King Jr. to harness the moral authority and organizing power of black churches to conduct nonviolent protests in the service of civil rights reform.

Nashville Sit-ins

In 1960, Vivian participated in the Nashville sit-ins, a series of nonviolent protests against segregated lunch counters in Nashville, Tennessee. These sit-ins were part of a larger movement that led to the desegregation of public facilities in the city.

Freedom Rides

Vivian was also involved in the Freedom Rides, which were organized to challenge segregation in interstate bus terminals across the southern United States. These rides were met with violent resistance, but they were instrumental in bringing national attention to the civil rights struggle.

Selma Voting Rights Movement

One of Vivian's most notable contributions was his involvement in the Selma Voting Rights Movement. On February 16, 1965, he led a group of protesters to the Dallas County Courthouse in Selma, Alabama, to register to vote. There, he confronted Sheriff Jim Clark in a televised encounter that highlighted the injustices faced by African Americans in the South.

Later Life and Legacy

After the height of the civil rights movement, Vivian continued to work for social justice. He founded the C. T. Vivian Leadership Institute in 2008, which aimed to "create a model leadership culture for the purpose of training and educating the new generation of grassroots leaders."

Vivian received numerous awards and honors for his work, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2013, awarded by President Barack Obama.

Death

C. T. Vivian passed away on July 17, 2020, in Atlanta, Georgia, at the age of 95. His death was widely mourned, and he was remembered as a tireless advocate for justice and equality.

See Also

• Civil Rights Movement
• Martin Luther King Jr.
• Southern Christian Leadership Conference
• Freedom Riders

References

• Vivian, C. T. Black Power and the American Myth. Fortress Press, 1970.
• Branch, Taylor. Parting the Waters: America in the King Years 1954-63. Simon & Schuster, 1988.

External Links

• The King Center
• C. T. Vivian Leadership Institute