Charles Stephen Ralston Interview

Born in San Francisco, California, in 1937, Charles Stephen (“Steve”) Ralston first became involved in civil rights work as an activist in the student movement at the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law. After gaining his law degree in 1962, he studied and taught at Columbia University before joining LDF as a staff attorney. While at LDF, he worked to defend demonstrators’ right to protest in Alabama, bringing the suit that allowed the Selma to Montgomery march to take place. He also worked on cases related to employment and housing discrimination, voting rights, school desegregation, and jury discrimination. Ralston was appointed LDF’s Deputy Director-Counsel in 1988 and led the employment litigation program from 1993 until his departure in 2001. Following his time at LDF, Ralston opened his own law practice, specializing in employment discrimination and civil rights matters.

HIGHLIGHTED EXCERPT:

Charles Stephen Ralston on the role LDF played as the legal arm of the Civil Rights Movement

FULL INTERVIEW

Oral History

Charles Stephen Ralston Transcript

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Charles Stephen Ralston interview for the Legal Defense Fund Oral History Project. Interviewed by Danita Mason-Hogans on November 9, 2024 in Mi Wuk Village, California. Conducted in collaboration with the Southern Oral History Program at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.