Julian Bond

Date of Birth: January 14, 1940

Zodiac Sign: Capricorn

Date of Death: August 15, 2015

Biography

Julian Bond was a prominent American social activist, leader in the Civil Rights Movement, politician, professor, and writer. He was born on January 14, 1940, in Nashville, Tennessee. Bond’s activism began while he was a student at Morehouse College, where he helped found the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). He was deeply involved in the Civil Rights Movement, participating in protests and organizing voter registration drives across the Southern United States. In 1965, Bond was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives, though he faced significant opposition from white legislators who initially refused to seat him. He eventually won his seat after a Supreme Court ruling in his favor. Bond served in the Georgia House of Representatives until 1975 and then in the Georgia Senate from 1975 to 1987. Julian Bond was also a co-founder of the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), an organization dedicated to fighting hate and seeking justice. He served as its president from 1971 to 1979. In addition to his political and activist work, Bond was also an accomplished academic, teaching at institutions such as Harvard University, the University of Virginia, and American University. Bond’s later years were marked by continued advocacy for civil rights and social justice. He remained a prominent voice in American political and social discourse until his death on August 15, 2015.

5 Interesting Facts about Julian Bond

1. Julian Bond was one of the youngest elected legislators in Georgia’s history, winning his seat at the age of 25.

2. He was a vocal opponent of the Vietnam War and refused to endorse the conflict, which led to a significant legal battle over his right to hold office.

3. Bond was the first president of the Southern Poverty Law Center, an influential organization in the fight against hate groups and for civil rights.

4. He was nominated for the Vice Presidency of the United States at the 1968 Democratic National Convention, but he declined because he was too young to serve.

5. Julian Bond was an accomplished writer and poet, contributing to various publications and authoring several books on civil rights and American history.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Julian Bond

1. “The civil rights movement didn’t begin in Montgomery and it didn’t end in the 1960s. It continues to this very minute.”

2. “Good things don’t come to those who wait. They come to those who agitate!”

3. “Violence is black children going to school for 12 years and receiving 6 years’ worth of education.”

4. “Many are attracted to social change, not by compassion or hope, but by self-righteous indignation and the pride of being on the side of history.”

5. “America is race. From its symbolism to its substance, nothing in America escapes the influence of race.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Julian Bond’s net worth was not widely publicized, but it is estimated to have been around $2 million at its peak, primarily from his work as an academic, politician, and civil rights leader.

Children

Julian Bond had five children: Phyllis Jane Bond-McMillan, Horace Julian Bond II, Jeffrey Alvin Bond, Julia Louise Bond, and Michael Julian Bond. His children have pursued various careers, continuing their father’s legacy of activism and public service.