How Did Billy Graham Influence The Civil Rights Movement

“He’s clearly a sterling figure in American religious history” (Briggs, 2). In this quote it tells how Billy Graham was seen throughout many countries. Billy Graham had created one of the largest ministries in history and avoided the scandals of famous televangelists. The religious figure and christian evangelist was born in Charlotte, North Carolina on November 7, 1918. In a family of four, to parents William and Morrow Graham on their family’s dairy farm. At about the age 16, he had attended many revivals meeting that were run by Mordecai Ham. Graham was a very well-behaved young boy and Mordecai Ham had inspired him through his preaching. In later years, he became married to his wife Ruth Graham, and started the first Baptist church in

He had inspired many civil rights activist. Martin Luther King Jr. had said, “had it not been for the ministry of my good friend Dr. Billy Graham, my work in the civil rights movement would not have been as successful as it had been”(Billy Graham Evangelistic Association). In this quote it shows how through all his preachings during the civil rights movement had helped the success of the movement. To continue, he had a huge amount of crusades that were very interracial. Before it was widely spread or popular, “Billy Graham required that his crusades must be interracial without a hint of segregation”(Curry, 1). He was for equality of african- americans and whites even if there had still be segregation in many places. He had made early efforts to break the barriers of racial

By many, Graham was considered America’s Preacher. Billy Graham had started to spend less time on partisan politics, and less concerned with american leaders but more time with citizens. He had said, “The greatest legacy one can pass down to their children and grandchildren is not money or other material things accumulated in ones life, but rather legacy of character and faith” (Ethridge, 1). This shows how selfless he is as person and for all that he preaches about he lives by on a day to day basis. Through his preaching he did not only talk about the gospel he also had talked about other world issues. One historian said Billy Graham could confer, “Acceptability on wars, shame on racial prejustice, desirability on decency, dishonor on indecency, and prestigo on civil events” (Gjelten, 2). Yes, He had spoke about the christian gospel, but also talking about the different issues had inspired people to help out and try to fix the different problems around the