Carrie Meek facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Carrie Meek
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Meek in 1993
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida's 17th district |
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| In office January 3, 1993 – January 3, 2003 |
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| Preceded by | William Lehman |
| Succeeded by | Kendrick Meek |
| Member of the Florida Senate from the 36th district |
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| In office November 2, 1982 – November 3, 1992 |
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| Preceded by | Redistricted |
| Succeeded by | William H. Turner |
| Member of the Florida House of Representatives from the 106th district |
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| In office March 27, 1979 – November 2, 1982 |
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| Preceded by | Gwen Cherry |
| Succeeded by | Redistricted |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Carrie Mae Pittman
April 29, 1926 Tallahassee, Florida, U.S. |
| Died | November 28, 2021 (aged 95) Miami, Florida, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
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| Children | 3, including Kendrick Meek |
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Carrie Mae Pittman Meek (April 29, 1926 – November 28, 2021) was an American educator and politician. She served as a United States Representative for Florida's 17th congressional district from 1993 to 2003. She was the first African American person elected to represent Florida in the United States Congress since the Reconstruction era. In Congress, she worked hard to help people who were poor or from minority groups. She was a member of the Democratic Party. Before Congress, she served in the Florida House of Representatives (1979-1982) and the Florida Senate (1982-1992).
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Early Life and Education
Carrie Mae Pittman was born on April 29, 1926, in Tallahassee, Florida. She grew up there as the youngest of 12 children. Her parents were sharecroppers, who farmed land owned by others. Her grandmother had been enslaved.
Meek went to Old Lincoln High School. She then attended Florida A&M University, which was a historically black university at the time. She graduated in 1946 with degrees in physical education and biology. She also played track and field. Because African Americans were not allowed in graduate schools in Florida back then, Meek went to the University of Michigan. She earned her master's degree in 1948.
Academic Career
After finishing her studies, Carrie Meek became a teacher. She taught at Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, Florida. Later, she taught at her old college, Florida A&M University.
In 1961, Meek moved to Miami. She became a special assistant at Miami-Dade Community College. She played a big part in helping the college become desegregated in 1963. This meant students of all races could attend together.
During her years as an educator, Meek also worked on many community projects in the Miami area.
Political Career
Serving in Florida's Legislature
In 1979, a state representative named Gwen Cherry died. She was the first African American woman to serve in Florida's legislature. Carrie Meek decided to run for her seat in a special election. She was elected to the Florida House of Representatives as a Democrat. As a state representative, she helped create a law that made stalking a crime. She served in this role until 1982.
In 1982, Meek ran for a new state senate seat in northern Dade County. She made history by becoming the first African American woman elected to the Florida Senate. As a state senator, she worked on the education budget. Her efforts helped build thousands of affordable homes for rent.
Working in the U.S. House of Representatives
In 1992, new election districts were created to help elect more African American candidates. Meek ran for one of these seats, the 17th district, which covered northern Dade County. She won and became one of the first black members of Congress from Florida since the Post-Civil War Reconstruction Era. She served alongside Corrine Brown and Alcee Hastings.
When she started her term, her district was recovering from Hurricane Andrew. Meek was the only new Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee. Her work helped bring $100 million in federal aid to rebuild Dade County.
In the House, Meek focused on important issues like creating jobs, improving health care, education, and housing. She helped pass laws to improve Dade County's transportation system, airport, and seaport. She also worked to build a new family and childcare center and fund aviation training programs. Meek was a strong supporter of people from Haiti and senior citizens.
Meek believed that her district's population was not counted correctly in the 1990 Census. She also felt that the votes of her community were not properly counted in the 2000 United States presidential election. She and other members of the U.S. House of Representatives raised concerns about Florida's electoral votes. However, no U.S. senator joined her objection, so it was not formally debated.
Carrie Meek was re-elected every time she ran for the U.S. House of Representatives. In 2002, she announced she would not seek re-election. She retired from the House in January 2003. Her son, Kendrick Meek, ran for her seat and won, continuing her legacy.
Personal Life
Carrie Meek was married twice, to Lucius Davis and Harold Meek. Both marriages ended in divorce. She had three children: two daughters, Lucia Davis-Raiford and Sheila Davis, and a son, Kendrick Meek.
After retiring from politics, she spent much of her time working with the Carrie Meek Foundation. She started this foundation in 2001 to help her community in Miami-Dade. The foundation provides resources and opportunities for people. She stepped down from the foundation in 2015 due to health reasons. Carrie Meek passed away at her home in Miami on November 28, 2021, at the age of 95.
Awards and Honors
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The Carrie Meek – James N. Eaton, Sr. Southeastern Regional Black Archives Research Center and Museum is located at Florida A&M University in Tallahassee. It was partly named in her honor.
She was a member of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority and an honorary member of the Iota Phi Lambda sorority.
Meek also received special honorary degrees from several universities. These included Florida A&M University, University of Miami, Barry University, Florida Atlantic University, and Rollins College.
See also
In Spanish: Carrie Meek para niños
Images for kids
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Meek in 1993
