In Memoriam: Julian Bond

Remembering the life and legacy of the civil rights leader.

R.I.P. Julian Bond - Veteran civil rights activist and former chairman of the board of the NAACP, Julian Bond died on Saturday (Aug. 15) at the age of 75. Since his college days at Morehouse, Bond has made activism his life's work, and has left a profound legacy on this country. Here's a look back at the life of the late icon.(Photo by Araya Diaz/WireImage)

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R.I.P. Julian Bond - Veteran civil rights activist and former chairman of the board of the NAACP, Julian Bond died on Saturday (Aug. 15) at the age of 75. Since his college days at Morehouse, Bond has made activism his life's work, and has left a profound legacy on this country. Here's a look back at the life of the late icon.(Photo by Araya Diaz/WireImage)

Integration of College Sports - Before segregation was ruled illegal in 1954, Black athletes integrated conferences in the North as early as 1892. Paul Robeson, pictured above, was the first Black player for Rutgers University football after enrolling in 1915. As a Columbia University student, George Gregory was the first Black college basketball player in 1931. (Photo by Sasha/Getty Images)

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Nashville Native - Bond was born Horace Julian Bond in the Tennessee capital in 1940. His father, Horace Mann Bond was the president of Fort Valley State College and his mother, Julia Agnes was a librarian at Clark Atlanta University.(Photo by Sasha/Getty Images)

Guests of Honor - Bond was influenced by great thinkers from an early age. His parents' house was a frequent stop for scholars and activists traveling through the state, like Paul Robeson and W.E.B. Du Bois (pictured above alongside his father Horace Mann Bond and Mary Mcleod Bethune).(Photo: Photo12/UIG/Getty Images)

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Guests of Honor - Bond was influenced by great thinkers from an early age. His parents' house was a frequent stop for scholars and activists traveling through the state, like Paul Robeson and W.E.B. Du Bois (pictured above alongside his father Horace Mann Bond and Mary Mcleod Bethune).(Photo: Photo12/UIG/Getty Images)

Drop Out - After attending private schools throughout his life, Bond went to Morehouse College for his undergraduate degree, but dropped out before completing his education. He left in 1961 to work on civil rights in the South and lead student protests against Jim Crow. He returned to Morehouse in 1971, when he was 31, to finish his Bachelor's degree.(Photo: Afro American Newspapers/Gado/Getty Images)

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Drop Out - After attending private schools throughout his life, Bond went to Morehouse College for his undergraduate degree, but dropped out before completing his education. He left in 1961 to work on civil rights in the South and lead student protests against Jim Crow. He returned to Morehouse in 1971, when he was 31, to finish his Bachelor's degree.(Photo: Afro American Newspapers/Gado/Getty Images)

Getting Organized - While at Morehouse, Bond co-founded the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and served as the communications director of the SNCC from 1961 to 1966. During his second stint at the HBCU, he helped found the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) with Morris Dees and served as its president from 1971 until 1979.(Photo: AP Photo/Marty Lederhandler)

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Getting Organized - While at Morehouse, Bond co-founded the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and served as the communications director of the SNCC from 1961 to 1966. During his second stint at the HBCU, he helped found the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) with Morris Dees and served as its president from 1971 until 1979.(Photo: AP Photo/Marty Lederhandler)

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Represent, Represent - In 1965, Bond (pictured here with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.) was one of 11 African Americans elected to the Georgia House of Representatives, resulting from the passage of the Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act of 1965, which had opened voter registration to Black folks. Georgia state representatives voted to deny Bond his seat because of his open opposition to the Vietnam War, but a Supreme Court decision in 1966 declared that the move was unconstitutional and denied Bond his freedom of speech. He was given his seat and served in the Georgia House of Representatives for four terms, from 1967 until 1975. He then served in the Georgia Senate for 12 more years, from 1975 until 1987.(Photo: AP Photo)

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Represent, Represent - In 1965, Bond (pictured here with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.) was one of 11 African Americans elected to the Georgia House of Representatives, resulting from the passage of the Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act of 1965, which had opened voter registration to Black folks. Georgia state representatives voted to deny Bond his seat because of his open opposition to the Vietnam War, but a Supreme Court decision in 1966 declared that the move was unconstitutional and denied Bond his freedom of speech. He was given his seat and served in the Georgia House of Representatives for four terms, from 1967 until 1975. He then served in the Georgia Senate for 12 more years, from 1975 until 1987.(Photo: AP Photo)

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Educator - After wrapping up his political career, Bond followed in his father's footsteps and taught at a number of universities on the East Coast, including American, Drexel, Harvard, and the University of Virginia.(Photo: Dudley M. Brooks/The Washington Post/Getty Images)

NAACP - In 1998, Bond was selected as chairman of the NAACP. In November 2008, he announced that he would not seek another term, however, he agreed to stay on in the position through 2009, as the organization celebrated its 100th anniversary.(Photo: Richard Ellis/Gettyimages)

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NAACP - In 1998, Bond was selected as chairman of the NAACP. In November 2008, he announced that he would not seek another term, however, he agreed to stay on in the position through 2009, as the organization celebrated its 100th anniversary.(Photo: Richard Ellis/Gettyimages)

Advocate - Bond was known for championing a wide variety of causes, including the LGBT rights movement. A long advocate for same-sex marriage, he even boycotted the funeral services of Coretta Scott King because of her children's affiliation with an anti-gay megachurch. "Sexual disposition parallels race," he said in a 2005 speech. "I was born this way. I have no choice. I wouldn’t change it if I could. Sexuality is unchangeable." He later said, "If you don't like gay marriage, don't get gay married."(Photo: Steve Grayson/WireImage)

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Advocate - Bond was known for championing a wide variety of causes, including the LGBT rights movement. A long advocate for same-sex marriage, he even boycotted the funeral services of Coretta Scott King because of her children's affiliation with an anti-gay megachurch. "Sexual disposition parallels race," he said in a 2005 speech. "I was born this way. I have no choice. I wouldn’t change it if I could. Sexuality is unchangeable." He later said, "If you don't like gay marriage, don't get gay married."(Photo: Steve Grayson/WireImage)

Family and Legacy - A recognized voice of the movement, Bond was also a host of America's Black Forum, narrated PBS's Eyes on the Prize and contibuted commentary to TV (The Today Show), radio (Byline), and print (Viewpoint newspaper).He was on the Board of Selectors for the Jefferson Awards for Public Service, and an advocate fighting climate change, active as recently as 2013, when he was arrested for civil disobedience protesting the Keystone XL Pipeline.Bond married Alice Clopton, a student at Spelman College, in 1961. They raised five children and divorced in 1989. He also leaves behind Pamela S. Horowitz, an attorney, whom he married in 1991.(Photo: AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

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Family and Legacy - A recognized voice of the movement, Bond was also a host of America's Black Forum, narrated PBS's Eyes on the Prize and contibuted commentary to TV (The Today Show), radio (Byline), and print (Viewpoint newspaper).He was on the Board of Selectors for the Jefferson Awards for Public Service, and an advocate fighting climate change, active as recently as 2013, when he was arrested for civil disobedience protesting the Keystone XL Pipeline.Bond married Alice Clopton, a student at Spelman College, in 1961. They raised five children and divorced in 1989. He also leaves behind Pamela S. Horowitz, an attorney, whom he married in 1991.(Photo: AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)