M. Carl Holman

M. Carl Holman (born June 27, 1919, Minter City, Mississippi, U.S.—died August 9, 1988, Washington, D.C.) was an American civil rights leader who, as president of the National Urban Coalition (1971–88), promoted the need for a mutual partnership between industry and government to address the needs of disadvantaged communities.

Holman graduated magna cum laude from Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri (1942), attended the University of Chicago (M.A. 1944), and earned a master of fine arts degree from Yale University (1954). While serving on the English and humanities faculty at Clark College in Atlanta (1948–62), he joined students in founding the Black journal The Atlanta Inquirer (1960).

In 1962 Holman joined the staff of the United States Commission on Civil Rights, rising to deputy staff director in 1966. Two years later he became vice president of programs at the National Urban Coalition, an organization that was formed after widespread riots during the summer of 1967.

While serving as the organization’s president, Holman advocated programs in housing, education, employment opportunities, job training, and economic development. He forged liaisons between Black and Hispanic communities and was an influential organizer and meeting planner. During the 1980s he was active in developing programs to help disadvantaged children develop scientific, mathematical, and computer skills.