This biography for younger readers describes the life of A. Philip Randolph, the civil rights activist who organized the labor union for Pullman car porters, the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters. The book presents an overview of the civil rights movement in the United States while documenting the part Randolph played as advocate for African American rights throughout the century. Highlights of A. Philip Randolph's life include the following: (1) publication of the newspaper "The Messenger," beginning in 1917; (2) organization and presidency of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters in 1925; (3) appointment as president of the National Negro Congress in 1936; (4) convincing President Roosevelt in 1941 to ban discrimination in hiring in defense plants; (5) convincing President Truman in 1948 to ban segregation in the armed forces; (6) election as vice-president of the AFL-CIO in 1957; (7) election as president of the Negro American Labor Council; (8) organization of youth marches on Washington in 1958-59; (9) organization of the March on Washington in 1963; and (10) award of the Medal of Freedom and founding of the A. Philip Randolph Institute in 1964. The book includes a civil rights movement time line, a timetable of events in Randolph's life, suggested reading, and a list of 21 sources. (AF)