Leadership Luncheon with Willie Pearl Mackey King

Spend an afternoon hearing from a pioneer of the American History, Civil Rights Activist, Willie Pearl Mackey King!

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About Willie Pearl Mackey King

Mrs. King worked for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference under the leadership of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. From February 1962 until February 1966. She was a member of his executive staff. She performed a variety of administrative duties and traveled with Dr. King. While in Birmingham, Alabama with Dr. King, she compiled his famous April 19, 1963, “Letter from the Birmingham Jail”. She transcribed and compiled the letter from several notes, passed to her from Dr. Wyatt Tee Walker, which were written on newspaper edges, table napkins, toilet paper and scraps of paper.

The 1964 Civil Rights Act under Title VII then established the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Because of Mrs.Mackey-King’s administrative aptitude, in 1966, Dr. King tasked her to go to work in the Government at the recently established EEOC. She worked for the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for 32 years. During her tenure, she served as the Accounting Officer before becoming the Financial Manager for the Commission. She also worked six years as a contractor for the U.S. Office of Compliance for Capitol Hill after her retirement. On November 20, 2022, King was inducted into the Hall of Fame, Montgomery County Maryland Office of Human Rights.

Mrs. King studied at Dimery College, Georgia State University, University of Maryland, Montgomery College, and LaSalle University. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management. Mrs. King has one daughter, three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Awards: 2019 Civil Rights Legend – International Association of Official Human Rights Agencies. 2021 African American Living Legend – Montgomery County Maryland. 2021 Life Story Recorded with the National Women’s History Museum. November 20, 2022, King was inducted into the Hall of Fame, Montgomery County Maryland Office of Human Rights. For her extraordinary contribution to the Civil Rights Movement in America, she received the Women Making History Award at the National Women’s History Museum in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library in March 2023.

This event is Sponsored by Wells Fargo and Presented by Publix, Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival and the University Area Community Development Center.