Born in Littleton, North Carolina, Plummer Young studied at St. Augustine’s College, Shaw University, and Virginia Union University. He organized a local chapter of the N.A.A.C.P. in 1910. A year later he became the president of The Guide Publishing Company, Inc. Young also served as editor of the Norfolk Journal & Guide, which during his tenure could claim the largest circulation of any weekly paper south of the Mason Dixon line. He published the paper for fifty-two years, before handing it down to his children. Young was the vice president of the Association for the Advancement of Negro Rural Life and an executive of the National Urban League. He was also a member of Howard University's board of trustees and the first black chairman of the board. In addition, he served on the executive board of the National Negro Business League.

Sources:
Davis, Arthur P. Dictionary of American Negro Biography. 1 st ed. New York : W.W. Norton & Company, 1982. pgs. 679-680.

 Wallenstein, Peter . “Young, Plummer Bernard.” American National Biography. February2000. http://www.anb.org/articles/16/16-01819.html. 1 April, 2005.

 Who’s Who in Colored America . Ed. Thomas Yenser. 5 th ed. Thomas Yenser: New York, 1940. pg. 591.