Russell Cameron Major (1932–1997) was a central figure in Englewood, New Jersey’s civil rights history and one of the city’s most persistent advocates for school integration and civic participation. Raised in Englewood during a period of entrenched residential and educational segregation, Major experienced firsthand the realities of a public school system divided along racial lines despite legal mandates for desegregation.

In the early 1960s, Major emerged as a leading voice in the movement to integrate Cleveland Elementary School. Working alongside Black and white parents, he helped organize direct action when negotiations stalled, including boycotts and the creation of informal “freedom schools” in private homes. These efforts placed sustained pressure on local officials and ultimately contributed to state intervention ordering Englewood to proceed with integration in 1962—an action that predated many of the most visible national civil rights campaigns.

Major’s commitment to integration extended well beyond that initial victory. He served on the Englewood Board of Education from 1975 to 1993, making him one of the longest-serving board members in the city’s history. During his tenure, he consistently argued that integrated schools were essential not only for racial justice but for preparing students to compete in an increasingly interconnected world. Even as white flight, private school enrollment, and regional resistance complicated those goals, Major continued to press for inclusive policies and regional cooperation.

Outside the school board, Major was deeply engaged in Englewood’s civic life. A graduate of Allen University in South Carolina and the New Jersey Professional School of Business, he worked in real estate and commercial property management while remaining active in community organizations, including the Bergen County Urban League. Earlier in life, he had been a standout athlete at Dwight Morrow High School and later volunteered as a youth football coach, mentoring young people both on and off the field.

Russell Major died in 1997 at the age of 65 after a long illness. In recognition of his impact, Englewood officials ordered city flags lowered to half-staff. He is remembered as a principled, pragmatic leader whose local work mirrored the broader civil rights struggle—demonstrating how sustained community action at the municipal level could produce lasting social change.

"Russell C Major in the New Jersey, U.S., Death Index, 1848-1878, 1901-2017." Ancestry.

Szorza, Daniel. "School renamed in memory of Englewood integrationist." The Record, 12 Mar. 1999, p.L-4.

"Major." The Record, 12 Dec. 1997, p.L-6.

Cowen, Richard. "Civil rights leader Russell Major dies." The Record, 9 Dec. 1997, p.L-1, L-10.