Chokwe Lumumba facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Chokwe Lumumba
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Lumumba in 2013
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| Mayor of Jackson, Mississippi | |
| In office July 1, 2013 – February 25, 2014 |
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| Preceded by | Harvey Johnson Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Charles Tillman (Interim Mayor) |
| Member of Jackson, Mississippi City Council for Ward Two | |
| In office 2009–2013 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Edwin Finley Taliaferro
August 2, 1947 Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Died | February 25, 2014 (aged 66) Jackson, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Children | Kambon Thurman (eldest son), Rukia Lumumba (daughter) and Chokwe Antar Lumumba (younger son) |
| Alma mater | Kalamazoo College (BA) Wayne State University (JD) |
Chokwe Lumumba (born August 2, 1947 – died February 25, 2014) was an American lawyer, activist, and politician. He was part of a group called the Republic of New Afrika, which worked for self-determination for African Americans. He served as a human rights lawyer in Michigan and Mississippi. In 2013, he was elected as Mayor of Jackson, Mississippi. Before that, he was on the City Council.
He was born in Detroit, Michigan, with the name Edwin Finley Taliaferro. He grew up there. In 1969, he changed his name after joining the Republic of New Afrika.
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Early Life and Education
Chokwe Lumumba was born in Detroit, Michigan. He was the second of eight children. His parents, Lucien and Priscilla, moved to Detroit during the Great Migration. This was a time when many African Americans moved from the Southern states to the North.
He was raised Catholic and went to local Catholic schools. He graduated from St. Theresa High School in Detroit. There, he was president of the student council and captain of the football team. As a young man, he saw unfair treatment by the police. His mother taught him about the importance of political action and civil rights. She even collected money for the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee.
The assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968 greatly affected Lumumba. The day after King's death, he joined a student protest at Western Michigan University. The students were upset about the small number of African-American teachers.
He studied political science and graduated from Kalamazoo College in 1969. While there, he started the Black United Front. This group worked to create African-American studies programs in colleges.
Political Activism
Lumumba became more involved in Black Nationalist politics. In 1969, he changed his name to Chokwe and Lumumba. Chokwe is from the Chokwe people in Central Africa, who fought against slavery. Lumumba is from Patrice Lumumba, a leader in the Congo.
In 1971, he was chosen to be the second vice president of the Republic of New Afrika. He helped move the group's main office to Hinds County, Mississippi. This area was seen as a key part of the new country the group wanted to create.
Legal Work
Lumumba was an excellent law student. He graduated with honors from Wayne State University Law School in 1975. During law school, he created the Malcolm X Center. He also worked as a lawyer for the Detroit Public Defenders Office.
In 1978, he started his own law firm in Detroit. He successfully defended 16 prisoners who faced murder charges after a prison riot in Pontiac, Illinois. He also worked on the Geronimo Pratt case. Lumumba encouraged young black people to avoid gang activities. He also urged them to join global actions, like protesting apartheid in South Africa.
During the 1980s, more African Americans were sent to prison. Lumumba became interested in getting reparations for the harm caused by slavery. He believed this harm contributed to problems faced by black people today. In 1987, he spoke at Harvard Law School. He discussed the need to address the historical injustices against enslaved people.
In 1988, Lumumba moved back to Jackson, Mississippi. Three years later, he was allowed to practice law there. He worked as a public defender for people who could not afford a lawyer. He faced some legal challenges during his career. At one point, he lost his license to practice law for six months.
Jackson City Council
In 2009, Lumumba was elected to the Jackson Ward Two city council seat. He received support from groups like the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, which he helped create. He also worked with the New African Peoples Organization. He helped the Mississippi Public Broadcasting agency with a campaign to keep young students in school.
Becoming Mayor of Jackson
In 2013, Lumumba ran for mayor of Jackson. He first ran in the Democratic primary election. On May 7, 2013, it was announced that Lumumba would face Jonathan Lee in a runoff election. The current mayor, Harvey Johnson Jr., was defeated. Lumumba had more votes in most of the city's wards.
Before the primary, Lumumba had raised much less money than Jonathan Lee. However, Lumumba believed his work with local communities would help him win. On May 15, another candidate, Regina Quinn, supported Lumumba. She liked his ideas for improving the city's roads and sewers. She also supported his idea for equal pay for women.
On May 21, 2013, Lumumba won the runoff election against Jonathan Lee. He won by over 3,000 votes. Lee received more votes from areas with more white residents. With little opposition in the general election on June 4, Lumumba easily became the mayor-elect. The next day, Lumumba publicly questioned the importance of Christopher Columbus. He was sworn in as Mayor on July 1, 2013.
During his short time as mayor, Lumumba impressed many people. He had a practical way of leading the city. He promised to fix potholes and sewers. He also passed a sales tax increase to help pay for these improvements. He talked about this tax in all parts of the city. He received 90% approval for the tax.
Death
Chokwe Lumumba died on February 25, 2014, at 66 years old. City officials said he passed away at St. Dominic Hospital in Jackson. The exact cause of death was not immediately clear. Some people, including Hinds County Supervisor Kenneth Stokes, believed he was murdered. However, City Councilman Quentin Whitwell told reporters that Lumumba died of heart failure.
Personal Life
Lumumba's son, Chokwe Antar Lumumba, is also a lawyer. He worked with his father in their law practice. He is currently the mayor of Jackson, Mississippi.
Chokwe Lumumba attended Jackson United Methodist Church.
Legacy
The group Cooperation Jackson works to continue many of the ideas Lumumba supported. They named their main building the Chokwe Lumumba Center for Economic Democracy and Development.
Warren Avenue in Detroit, Michigan, near Wayne State University, is named Chokwe Lumumba Ave in his honor.
See also
In Spanish: Chokwe Lumumba para niños
- List of elected socialist mayors in the United States
