From Civil Rights to Children’s Rights: Marian Wright Edelman and the Children’s Defense Fund

Marian Wright Edelman has been one of the most esteemed personalities in the United States regarding child welfare and social justice issues across party lines.Starting as a civil rights activist in the 1960s, she has since focused on the struggle to help poor people, especially children.As founder and president of the Children's Defense Fund (CDF), Edelman was instrumental in establishing a whole new perspective on the responsibility of the state and government for the rights and welfare of children in America.Her organization's mission is to improve the living conditions of disadvantaged youths by doing research, engaging in political lobbying, and organizing social welfare programs.Among other accomplishments, CDF's efforts since the 1970s have been decisive for the passage of several laws protecting the rights of children and families.This paper focuses on Edelman's transition from being a civil rights activist to becoming a nationally renowned child welfare advocate while continuously fighting for racial equality and social justice.