Franklin Augustine Thomas (1934–2021) was an American businessman, philanthropist, and advocate for social change, best known as the first African American president of the Ford Foundation (1979–96.) His leadership focused on racial equity, economic development, and international aid, particularly in South Africa.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, Thomas attended Columbia University, where he was a star basketball player and the first African American captain of an Ivy League team. He earned his B.A. (1956) and LLB (1963) before serving as a navigator in the U.S. Air Force Strategic Air Command.
He began his career as an Assistant U.S. Attorney (1964) and later became Deputy Police Commissioner for Legal Matters in New York City (1965–67.) As the first president and CEO of Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation (1967–77,) he led efforts to revitalize the Brooklyn neighborhood.
Appointed president of the Ford Foundation (1979,) Thomas expanded funding for civil rights, education, and global development. He later chaired the September 11th Fund (2001–04) and collaborated with the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Franklin Thomas
One day our descendants will think it incredible that we paid so much attention to things like the amount of melanin in our skin or the shape of our eyes or our gender instead of the unique identities of each of us as complex human beings.
—Franklin Thomas
Topics: Prejudice
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