Andrew Goodman

Andrew Goodman – Life, Activism, and Legacy

Andrew Goodman (1943–1964) was an American civil rights activist and one of three Freedom Summer workers murdered in Mississippi. Learn his life story, impact, and enduring legacy.

Introduction

Andrew Goodman was a young American activist whose life and tragic death became a galvanizing moment in the U.S. Civil Rights Movement. Born on November 23, 1943, Goodman joined the Freedom Summer project of 1964, volunteering to help register Black voters in Mississippi. On June 21, 1964, he and two fellow activists, James Chaney and Michael Schwerner, were murdered by members of the Ku Klux Klan. Goodman’s sacrifice spotlighted the brutality faced by civil rights workers and helped accelerate public support for landmark voting rights legislation.

Early Life and Family

Andrew Goodman was born in New York City on November 23, 1943, the second of three sons of Robert Goodman and Carolyn Goodman.

He attended the Walden School, a progressive, integrated school in Manhattan. His upbringing and values shaped a conviction toward equality, justice, and civic responsibility.

Education & Growing Activism

After high school, Goodman briefly attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison, but later moved to Queens College, New York, studying anthropology.

During this time, he also performed in off-Broadway theater and cultivated a passion for social justice. CORE (the Congress of Racial Equality) as part of his commitment to civil rights work. Freedom Summer, an ambitious campaign to register African American voters in Mississippi and establish Freedom Schools.

Freedom Summer & the Murder

Freedom Summer, in the summer of 1964, was a risky and bold initiative. Goodman, Michael Schwerner (Jewish American activist), and James Chaney (Black Mississippian) worked together in a coalition of racial, religious, and generational diversity.

On June 20–21 of that year, the trio traveled to Philadelphia, Mississippi, to investigate the burning of Mount Zion Methodist Church, which had been burned by the Ku Klux Klan for its plans to host a Freedom School. Cecil Price for speeding.

An autopsy indicated that Goodman may have been buried alive.

The crime—known publicly as one of the "Mississippi Murders"—sent shockwaves across the nation, intensified scrutiny of deep Southern racial violence, and exerted pressure for federal civil rights protections.

Aftermath, Investigation, and Accountability

The initial 1967 trial prosecuted several conspirators under federal civil rights law. Seven were convicted of conspiracy to violate civil rights, but none were tried for murder by the State of Mississippi at the time.

Decades later, renewed investigations led to the arrest and conviction of Edgar Ray Killen, a Klan leader, on manslaughter charges in 2005. He was sentenced to 60 years.

The case remains a potent symbol of civil rights-era sacrifice and the long struggle for justice.

Legacy and Honors

Andrew Goodman’s influence extends far beyond his brief life:

• In 1966, his parents established the Andrew Goodman Foundation to continue his vision, promoting civic engagement, voting rights, and leadership among youth.

• In 2014, Goodman, Chaney, and Schwerner were posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama.

• The Andrew Goodman Building at the Trevor Day School (formerly the Walden School) in Manhattan bears his name.

• A peak in the Adirondack Mountains, Goodman Mountain, was named in his memory.

• On the Queens College campus (CUNY), the Chaney-Goodman-Schwerner Clock Tower honors their sacrifice.

Through the Foundation, programs such as Vote Everywhere seek to uphold Goodman’s legacy by fostering student civic leadership and voter registration initiatives on campuses.

His life—and death—sustain a moral exemplar: that young people can act courageously in the face of injustice, and that individual sacrifice can awaken a nation’s conscience.

Personality, Values, and Impact

Though he died at 20, Andrew Goodman is remembered for compassion, idealism, moral clarity, and solidarity across racial and religious lines. He trusted in the power of direct engagement and stood with communities whose voices were suppressed.

His choice to work in Mississippi—where danger was real—was consistent with his upbringing and convictions. He believed in equality not just in theory, but in action. His willingness to risk his life in a hostile environment speaks to both his empathy and his resolve.

By joining in a white-Black-Jewish coalition working for voting rights, Goodman embodied the ideal that freedom and justice belong to all, and that solidarity across differences is essential in social change.

Famous Quotes Attributed to Andrew Goodman

Because Goodman was young and his public record relatively brief, his best-known “quotes” are often less direct transcription and more reflective of themes gleaned from his letters and writings. Some lines attributed to him include:

“The road to freedom must be uphill, even if it is arduous and frustrating.” “A people must have dignity and identity.” “Whoever moves into a community has a vested interest in it.”

Though these may have been rendered posthumously, they echo Goodman’s convictions: dignity, community, and struggle.

Lessons from Andrew Goodman

1. Conscience demands action. Goodman’s life reminds us that awareness must lead to engagement, even amid risk.

2. Solidarity across lines. His work exemplifies that bridging race, religion, and background strengthens justice movements.

3. Youth as agents of change. Even at 20, Goodman’s courage affected national policy and memory.

4. Sacrifice awakens awareness. His murder helped awaken broader public awareness and urgency around civil rights.

5. Legacy through institutional continuation. The Foundation he inspired ensures that activism isn’t just commemorated, but sustained.

Conclusion

Andrew Goodman’s brief life stands as a powerful testament to conviction, courage, and sacrifice. He did not live to see the legislative victories that followed—like the Voting Rights Act—but his name endures among those who gave everything for equality. Through education, civic work, and memorial foundations, his spirit continues to inspire new generations to insist on justice, inclusion, and the promise of a more equal democracy.

If you wish, I can prepare a timeline of key events in his life or examine how his death affected the passage of civil rights legislation.