Stanley Levison

Stanley David Levison (May 2, 1912 – September 12, 1979) was an American businessman and lawyer based in New York City who served as a close advisor, fundraiser, and strategist for Martin Luther King Jr. and the civil rights movement. Educated at the University of Michigan, Columbia University, the New School for Social Research, and St. John's University, where he earned two law degrees, Levison built a successful career in real estate and business before dedicating significant efforts to progressive causes.

In 1956, Levison began raising funds for the Montgomery bus boycott, which led to his introduction to King and the formation of a trusted partnership that lasted until King's assassination in 1968. He co-founded the organization In Friendship to support civil rights initiatives, provided administrative and financial backing to the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), assisted in editing King's book Stride Toward Freedom, and contributed to speechwriting and organizational strategy. Levison's behind-the-scenes role was pivotal in sustaining the movement's operations, earning praise from Coretta Scott King as a loyal supporter whose contributions extended to labor and Jewish community efforts.

However, Levison's involvement drew intense scrutiny from the FBI, which, based on informant reports including from Jack Childs in 1953, identified him as a secret member of the Communist Party USA (CPUSA) responsible for managing and laundering Soviet subsidies to the party. FBI assessments described him as a shrewd, dedicated communist whose influence over King raised national security concerns, prompting wiretaps and surveillance that extended to the civil rights leadership. Despite Levison's denials of ongoing communist ties, the bureau maintained surveillance into the 1960s, viewing his advisory position as a potential channel for communist infiltration into the movement.