John Mack (civic leader) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Mack
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Mack in 1986
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| Born |
John Wesley Mack
January 6, 1937 |
| Died | June 21, 2018 (aged 81) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
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| Alma mater | North Carolina A&T State University Clark Atlanta University |
| Occupation | Civic leader |
| Spouse(s) | Harriett Johnson |
| Children | 3 |
John Wesley Mack (born January 6, 1937 – died June 21, 2018) was an important American leader who worked for civil rights. He helped people get fair chances in school, jobs, and with the police. He led the National Urban League in Flint, Michigan, and later in Los Angeles. He also served on the Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners.
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John Mack's Early Life
John Mack was born on January 6, 1937, in Kingstree, South Carolina. His father, Abram, was a minister, and his mother, Ruth, was a teacher. John and his parents later moved to Darlington, South Carolina.
Education and College Life
John Mack went to North Carolina A&T State University. While there, he became the president of the student chapter for the NAACP. This group works to ensure equal rights for all people.
He earned a bachelor's degree in applied sociology in 1959. Later, he received a master's degree in social work from Clark Atlanta University. He also received an honorary doctorate degree from Claremont Graduate University. John Mack was a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, a historic Black Greek-letter organization.
A Career of Helping Others
Mack first moved to Oxnard, California, where he worked as a social worker for four years. From 1964 to 1969, he became the executive director of the Urban League in Flint, Michigan. In this role, he focused on helping people find fair housing and encouraging them to register to vote.
Leading the Los Angeles Urban League
John Mack returned to California and became the president of the Los Angeles Urban League. He held this position from 1969 to 2005. He worked hard to stop school segregation and to protect the rights of African American workers. In 1977, he helped start the Los Angeles Black Leadership Coalition on Education.
After the 1992 Los Angeles riots, Mack helped rebuild the damaged areas. He worked to renovate businesses and create jobs, especially along the Crenshaw Boulevard. He also promoted good relationships between Black and Hispanic communities in the area.
Improving Police Relations
From 2005 to 2013, Mack served on the Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners. He was the president of the board from 2005 to 2007. Under his leadership, the commission made many improvements to the Los Angeles Police Department. This included adding video cameras to police cars to help with accountability.
In 2018, Mack supported Michel Moore to become the new Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department. He believed Moore would help improve community policing and work to end racism within the police department.
John Mack's Family and Legacy
John Mack was married to Harriett Johnson, and they had three children. Harriett passed away in 2016.
John Mack died on June 21, 2018, at the age of 81, after battling cancer.
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said that Mack "made history with a fierce determination to pursue justice." Many people remember him as a strong voice for police reform in Los Angeles.
A school in the Los Angeles Unified School District, John W. Mack Elementary School, was named in his honor in 2005.
