Floyd McKissick

Floyd McKissick
McKissick in 1963
2nd National Director of the Congress of Racial Equality
In office 1966–1968
Preceded by	James Farmer
Succeeded by	Wilfred Ussery
Personal details
Born	(1922-03-09)March 9, 1922 Asheville, North Carolina
Died	April 28, 1991(1991-04-28) (aged 69) Soul City, North Carolina
Spouse	Evelyn Williams
Children	Floyd McKissick Jr. Joycelyn Andree Charmaine
Alma mater	Morehouse College

Floyd Bixler McKissick (March 9, 1922 – April 28, 1991) was an American lawyer and civil rights activist. He became the first African-American student at the University of North Carolina School of Law. In 1966 he became leader of CORE, the Congress of Racial Equality, taking over from James Farmer. A supporter of Black Power, he turned CORE into a more radical movement. In 1968, McKissick left CORE to found Soul City in Warren County, North Carolina. He was an active Republican and endorsed Richard Nixon for president that year, and the federal government, under President Nixon, supported Soul City. He became a state district court judge in 1990 and died on April 28, 1991.

Politician and attorney Floyd McKissick Jr., is his son.