Chokwe Antar Lumumba facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Chokwe Lumumba
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| 53rd Mayor of Jackson | |
| Assumed office July 3, 2017 |
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| Preceded by | Tony Yarber |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 29, 1983 |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Ebony Lumumba |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Chokwe Lumumba (father) |
| Education | Tuskegee University (BA) Texas Southern University (JD) |
Chokwe Antar Lumumba (born March 29, 1983) is an American lawyer and politician. He is currently the 53rd mayor of Jackson, Mississippi. He is the seventh African-American person in a row to hold this important job. His father, Chokwe Lumumba, was also a mayor of Jackson for a short time.
Lumumba was first elected mayor in 2017. He won the Democratic Party's nomination easily. Then, he won the main election by a lot of votes. He describes himself as a progressive and a socialist, which means he believes in making big changes to help everyone in society.
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Mayor of Jackson, Mississippi
Lumumba became mayor in June 2017. He won with a huge 93% of the votes. A magazine called The Nation said that Lumumba excited many people. He promised to make Jackson "the most radical city on the planet." This meant he wanted Jackson to be a leader in making big, positive changes.
In summer 2018, Mayor Lumumba joined a special program. It was called the "Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative." This program helps city leaders learn how to manage their cities better. It also lets them share ideas with each other. A few months later, in November 2018, the City of Jackson received $1 million. This money was given to create art that would highlight food insecurity. This means showing how some people don't have enough food. Lumumba won reelection in 2021 with almost 70% of the votes.
Helping the Jackson Zoo
In April 2018, the Jackson Zoo thought about moving to a new place. Mayor Lumumba worked with many community groups. They wanted to keep the zoo in its current West Jackson location. He said the idea to move the zoo was not honest or respectful. A city investigation found that the group running the zoo had not managed money well. They also owed $6 million in water bills.
Lumumba took direct control of the zoo. He approved $200,000 to fix it up. The zoo reopened in August 2020. It is now managed by the city.
Jackson's Water Challenges
Jackson, Mississippi, has faced big challenges with its water system. In 2019, billions of gallons of untreated sewage went into the Pearl River. People were told not to swim or fish in the water. In 2020, after a lot of rain, the sewage system overflowed again. More untreated sewage and treated wastewater went into the Pearl River.
In March 2021, Lumumba asked Mississippi's governor, Tate Reeves, for $47 million. This money was needed to fix and update Jackson's water system. In August 2022, Lumumba declared a water emergency. This happened when the city's largest water treatment plant stopped working. The problem was caused by old water pipes and equipment. These had not been fixed for many years. This led to thousands of gallons of sewage overflowing into the Pearl River. Also, water from the Ross Barnett Reservoir and the Pearl River caused the water plant to fail. Many of Jackson's 153,000 residents were left without clean drinking water. Some had very low water pressure.
On January 6, 2023, Lumumba announced good news. They had found the money needed to start fixing Jackson's water systems. Nearly $800 million came from a large federal bill passed in late 2022. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) would work with the mayor and city officials. They would manage the money and the project.
National Politics
In February 2020, Lumumba supported Bernie Sanders in the 2020 presidential election. Bernie Sanders also supported Lumumba when he ran for reelection in 2021. On July 29, 2021, it was announced that Mayor Lumumba supported Nina Turner. She was running for a special election in Ohio. This election was for a seat in Congress. The race was important because it showed differences within the Democratic Party. Turner lost the election.
2025 Jackson Mayoral Election
In October 2024, Lumumba announced he is running for reelection. The next mayoral election will be held on June 3, 2025.
Personal Life
Lumumba has two children with his wife, Ebony. His wife is a professor at Jackson State University. She is also the head of the English, Modern Languages, and Speech Communication Department. She has held this job since 2020.
See also
