DeRay Mckesson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
DeRay Mckesson
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Mckesson in 2024
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| Born | July 9, 1985 |
| Alma mater | Bowdoin College |
| Occupation | Activist, podcaster |
| Awards | Peter Jennings Award, Howard Zinn Freedom to Write Award |
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DeRay Mckesson (born July 9, 1985) is an American activist and podcast host. He is known for his work with the Black Lives Matter movement. This movement works for justice and equality for Black people.
Mckesson became active in protests in places like Ferguson, Missouri, and Baltimore, Maryland. He also uses social media like Twitter and Instagram to share his messages. He has written for HuffPost and The Guardian.
Along with other activists, Mckesson helped create Campaign Zero. This group works on ideas to end police violence. He also hosts a podcast called Pod Save the People.
Contents
Early Life and Education
DeRay Mckesson grew up in Baltimore, Maryland. Even as a teenager, he was an organizer in his community. He was the Chairman of Youth As Resources, a group where young people decided how to give out money for projects.
He finished high school in 2003. Then, he went to Bowdoin College. There, he was the president of the student government. He earned a degree in government and legal studies in 2007.
Career Before Activism
After college, Mckesson worked in education. He spent two years with Teach for America. This program places college graduates in schools in low-income areas. He taught at an elementary school in New York City.
Later, he worked for public schools in Baltimore and Minneapolis. He helped with human resources, which means he worked with school staff. In 2016, he became an interim chief human capital officer for Baltimore City Schools.
Activism and Public Work
DeRay Mckesson became a leading voice in the Black Lives Matter movement. He first went to Ferguson, Missouri, in August 2014. This was after a major event there. He started spending all his weekends and vacations in St. Louis to join the protests. In 2015, he moved to St. Louis to focus on his activism.
Campaign Zero and Police Reform
In April 2015, Mckesson and other activists launched "Mapping Police Violence." This project collected information about people killed by police in 2014. In August 2015, the same group started Campaign Zero. This plan has ten ideas for how to improve policing.
Mckesson and another activist, Johnetta Elzie, received the Howard Zinn Freedom to Write Award in 2015. This award recognized their important work.
Speaking Out
Mckesson uses his voice to speak about important issues. In 2015, he was a guest speaker at Yale Divinity School. He also spoke at the GLAAD Gala. There, he talked about his life and encouraged LGBT people to be open about who they are.
In 2016, Mckesson appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. He discussed topics like race and education. He also met with President Obama to talk about how Black communities and police can have better relationships.
Running for Mayor
In February 2016, Mckesson decided to run for Mayor of Baltimore. He wanted to bring change to his hometown. He finished sixth in the Democratic Party primary election.
Podcasting and Writing
In 2017, Mckesson started his podcast, Pod Save the People. On the show, he talks about news, culture, and social justice. He hosts it with other activists and writers.
Mckesson also wrote a book called On the Other Side of Freedom: The Case for Hope. It's a memoir about his life and his time as a Black Lives Matter organizer.
Recent Work
In 2018, a portrait of Mckesson was made for the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery. This is a special honor for important Americans.
In 2021, his college, Bowdoin College, gave him an honorary doctorate degree. This recognized his important contributions to society. In 2024, he spoke out about a situation involving a high school principal in Baltimore.
Books
- On the Other Side of Freedom (2018) ISBN: 978-0525560326
See also
Images for kids
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Mckesson in 2019
