Barbour’s Quiet Fight for Equality

From Middletown to the Nation’s Stage

William “Wilbur” Miller Barbour grew up in Middletown, where the seeds of his lifelong commitment to social justice were first planted. After graduating high school, he attended Elizabethtown College and then pursued a career in social work. His journey led him to the National Urban League, where he helped design programs that lifted people out of poverty and championed fair housing.

A Career That Spanned Cities

• Middletown – Where his activism began.
• Philadelphia – Expanded his reach into the heart of the nation’s urban challenges.
• Denver – Continued to push for equitable opportunities in the West.
• California – Where he dreamed of a mixed‑race housing project that would tear down color lines.

Barbour’s tactics were innovative for his era, often bringing Hollywood stars into conversations to spotlight racial injustice. His ideas about equal access to homes and jobs were ahead of their time.

Takeaway

Barbour’s life demonstrates that small beginnings can lead to profound change. His story reminds us that standing up for human rights is a lifelong effort and that every voice can help make the world fairer.