Robert Parris Moses was a soft spoken and big hearted educator and organizer—for justice, for equality, and for the right to vote. America has lost a hero. 

When Mr. Moses left New York to travel to Mississippi in 1961, he knew that he could face jail time and violence. And, indeed, he experienced both. But Mr. Moses also knew what Black voters faced: poll taxes, literacy tests, and intimidation. So, he remained undeterred, always listening closely to the people he worked to help. For years, he crisscrossed Mississippi, registering thousands of voters and training young organizers to do the same.

Throughout his life, Mr. Moses continued to teach and to organize.  He saw a nexus between mathematics literacy and economic empowerment, and he founded the Algebra Project to expand both knowledge and opportunity to underserved students.  

My condolences to the Moses family and to all who knew and loved him. Let us honor his memory by continuing the fight for justice, for equality, and for the right to vote.