Myles Horton

Myles Horton
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Name	Myles Horton
Birth date	July 9, 1905
Birth place	Savannah, Tennessee
Death date	January 19, 1990
Death place	Tennessee
Occupation	Civil rights activist, educator

Myles Horton was a prominent American civil rights activist, educator, and founder of the Highlander Folk School, who worked closely with notable figures such as Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and Stokely Carmichael. Born in Savannah, Tennessee, Horton was influenced by the Social Gospel movement and the Progressive Education philosophy of John Dewey. He was also shaped by his experiences at Cumberland University and Union Theological Seminary, where he studied alongside Reinhold Niebuhr and Paul Tillich.

● Early Life and Education

Myles Horton grew up in a poor farming family in Savannah, Tennessee, and was exposed to the harsh realities of poverty and racism from a young age. He attended Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tennessee, where he was influenced by the Social Gospel movement and the ideas of Walter Rauschenbusch and Jane Addams. Horton then went on to study at Union Theological Seminary in New York City, where he was shaped by the Progressive Education philosophy of John Dewey and the Christian socialism of Reinhold Niebuhr and Paul Tillich. During his time at Union Theological Seminary, Horton also interacted with other notable figures such as Harry Ward and Sherwood Eddy.

● Career

Horton's career as an educator and activist began in the 1930s, when he worked with the Presbyterian Church (USA) and the YMCA to establish programs for labor rights and social justice. He was also involved with the Congress of Industrial Organizations and the American Federation of Labor, working alongside John L. Lewis and A. Philip Randolph. In the 1940s and 1950s, Horton became increasingly involved in the Civil Rights Movement, working with figures such as Thurgood Marshall, Bayard Rustin, and Ella Baker. He also collaborated with organizations such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

● Highlander Folk School

In 1932, Horton co-founded the Highlander Folk School in Grundy County, Tennessee, with the goal of providing education and training for labor organizers and civil rights activists. The school became a hub for social justice activism, attracting notable figures such as Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie, and Septima Clark. The Highlander Folk School also played a key role in the development of the Civil Rights Movement, providing training and support for activists such as Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr.. The school's programs and activities were often supported by organizations such as the Ford Foundation and the Rockefeller Foundation.

● Philosophy and Approach

Horton's philosophy and approach to education and activism were shaped by his experiences at the Highlander Folk School and his interactions with notable figures such as John Dewey and Reinhold Niebuhr. He believed in the importance of experiential learning and community-based education, and was committed to empowering marginalized communities to take action for social justice. Horton's approach was also influenced by the ideas of Mahatma Gandhi and the Nonviolent resistance movement, as well as the Christian socialism of Walter Rauschenbusch and Jane Addams. He worked closely with other educators and activists, such as George S. Counts and Alice Hamilton, to develop innovative approaches to education and social change.

● Legacy and Impact

Myles Horton's legacy and impact on the Civil Rights Movement and social justice activism are immeasurable. He played a key role in the development of the Highlander Folk School and its programs, and worked closely with notable figures such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks. Horton's philosophy and approach to education and activism have also influenced a generation of educators and activists, including Howard Zinn, Noam Chomsky, and Angela Davis. Today, the Highlander Folk School continues to operate as the Highlander Research and Education Center, providing training and support for social justice activists and community organizers around the world, in partnership with organizations such as the AFL-CIO and the National Council of Churches. Horton's work has also been recognized by institutions such as the University of Tennessee and the Tennessee State University, which have established programs and centers in his honor. Category:American civil rights activists