Lenny McAllister facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lenny McAllister
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| Born |
Leonard Francis McAllister Jr.
January 13, 1972 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
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| Education | Davidson College |
| Occupation | Author |
| Political party | Republican |
Leonard Francis McAllister Jr. (born January 13, 1972) is an American political commentator. He shares his opinions on current events and politics for many newspapers and websites. These include RedState, AOL, and The Root.
In 2016, he ran for US Congress as a Republican in Pennsylvania's 14th congressional district. He won the primary election through write-in votes. From 2008 to 2017, he hosted shows on TV and radio. These included the Pittsburgh Cable News Channel and KDKA (AM) in Pittsburgh, and WVON in Chicago. He also appeared often on channels like CNN and HLN. As an African-American, he is part of the Black Conservatism movement. He supports ideas that are similar to some civil rights activists. For example, he believes that "stop and frisk" practices against African-Americans go against the Constitution.
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Early Life and Growing Up
Lenny McAllister was born on January 13, 1972, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His parents were Leonard Sr. and Carol McAllister. He grew up in Penn Hills, a town near Pittsburgh.
His father worked as a computer technician and an electrician. His mother ran a daycare from their home. She passed away in 2006.
School Days and College Journey
Lenny McAllister went to St. Bart's School for middle school. He played football and basketball there. Even though he was smaller than others, he led his school's 14-and-under football team to a championship when he was only 11.
He then attended Central Catholic High School. Later, he received a scholarship to Shady Side Academy. He graduated from Shady Side in 1989. He received offers for scholarships from several universities.
In 1989, McAllister started college at Davidson College. He took a long time to finish his four-year degree. He was going to join the Davidson basketball team. However, he decided not to after the coach left. He also played as a pitcher on the baseball team.
He left college in 1992 and took a break for ten years. During this time, he became a father at age 21. In 2000, McAllister went back to Davidson College. He graduated in 2002 with a degree in history.
Lenny McAllister's Career in Politics and Media
In 2005, Lenny McAllister ran for office in Davidson, North Carolina. He was the only Republican candidate against several Democrats. He lost by a very small number of votes. In 2007, he ran again and lost another close election.
In July 2008, he appeared in commercials on Black Entertainment Television (BET). These commercials were about the upcoming election. Soon after, Fox Charlotte asked him to be their political expert. He gave live comments and opinions on their morning show.
McAllister attended the 2008 Republican National Convention. He spoke for a group called Hip Hop Republicans. He also gave comments on CNN, Fox Charlotte, and XM Radio. He shared his views on how Governor Sarah Palin was introduced as a Vice Presidential candidate. He thought her family's story could have helped people connect with them more.
In 2013, he ran in a special election for Illinois's 2nd congressional district. He did not win. In 2016, he was the Republican candidate for US Congress in Pennsylvania's 14th congressional district. He lost to the person already holding the position, Democrat Mike Doyle.
Writing and Public Speaking
Lenny McAllister writes for several online magazines and blogs. His articles have also appeared in the Charlotte Post, Newsweek, and The Dallas Morning News. He often shares the Republican point of view. He also writes from an African-American perspective. He has spoken out against racism in politics and society. He was a main speaker at several Tea Party protests across the nation in 2009.
See also
- Black conservatism in the United States
