Charles McDew

Charles McDew
The Atlanta inquirer · Public domain · source
Name	Charles McDew
Birth date	June 23, 1938
Birth place	Massillon, Ohio
Death date	April 3, 2018
Death place	Atlanta, Georgia
Alma mater	South Carolina State University
Known for	Chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC)
Occupation	Civil rights activist, educator

Charles McDew. Charles McDew was a pivotal leader in the American Civil Rights Movement, best known for serving as the second chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) from 1961 to 1963. His leadership during a critical period of growth and strategic development helped shape SNCC into a major force for grassroots organizing and direct action across the Southern United States. McDew's activism, rooted in a philosophy of participatory democracy and Black empowerment, left a lasting impact on the movement's trajectory.

Early life and education

Charles McDew was born on June 23, 1938, in Massillon, Ohio, a predominantly white industrial town. His father was a foreman at a steel mill, and his family was one of the few Black families in the community. McDew's early experiences with racial segregation and discrimination, though occurring in the Northern United States, profoundly shaped his consciousness. He attended Massillon Washington High School, where he was a star athlete, but faced persistent racism from teammates and opponents alike. In 1955, he enrolled at South Carolina State University (then South Carolina State College), an historically Black university in Orangeburg, South Carolina. His move to the Jim Crow South exposed him to the brutal realities of legalized segregation, galvanizing his commitment to activism. His education was interrupted in 1960 following his arrest and expulsion for participating in sit-in protests.

Role in the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC)

McDew's involvement with SNCC began shortly after its founding at the Shaw University conference in April 1960. He quickly emerged as a charismatic and strategic leader. In 1961, he was elected chairman, succeeding Marion Barry. As chairman, McDew presided over SNCC during a period of intense expansion and field organizing. He helped steer the committee's focus from coordinating campus-based sit-ins to supporting long-term community organizing projects in rural areas, most notably in states like Mississippi and Georgia. He worked closely with other key SNCC figures such as Diane Nash, John Lewis, Bob Moses, and James Forman. McDew was instrumental in solidifying SNCC's structure and its reputation for fearless, on-the-ground activism, often putting his own safety at risk through participation in Freedom Rides and demonstrations.

Leadership and activism in the Civil Rights Movement

McDew's leadership was defined by a deep commitment to nonviolence as a tactic and a belief in empowering local Black communities. He was frequently arrested and jailed; he famously stated he was "born black in America and I was arrested when I was 18 years old and I’m 23 now and I’m still in prison." This reflected his view that the entire Black experience in America was one of incarceration under a system of white supremacy. He played a key role in major campaigns, including the Albany Movement in Georgia and efforts in McComb, Mississippi. His approach emphasized building leadership from within communities, a principle that underpinned SNCC's later work with the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party and Freedom Summer. McDew's intellectual rigor and oratory skills made him an effective spokesperson, articulating the movement's goals to the press and within broader coalitions like the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC).

Later career and teaching

After leaving the SNCC chairmanship in 1963, McDew remained active but gradually shifted his focus. He completed his bachelor's degree at the University of Chicago and later earned a master's degree in International relations from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He embarked on a long career in education, teaching courses in African-American studies, political science, and Black history. He held teaching positions at Metropolitan State University in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and at Antioch College. In his later years, he frequently lectured on the civil rights movement, emphasizing the lessons of grassroots organizing. He also contributed to historical documentation projects, providing oral histories for archives like those at the Library of Congress.

Legacy and impact

Charles McDew is remembered as a foundational leader who helped define the radical, youth-led wing of the Civil Rights Movement. His tenure at SNCC cemented its identity as an organization dedicated to participatory democracy and challenging not just segregation but also economic injustice. Historians credit him with helping to mentor a generation of activists and maintaining organizational cohesion during a volatile time. His life and work are studied as part of the history of student activism and community organizing. McDew's legacy is honored through his inclusion in civil rights museums, scholarly works, and the continued relevance of SNCC's organizing model. He passed away in Atlanta, Georgia in 2018, recognized as a key architect of one of the most transformative social movements in American history.