Leslie B. McLemore facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Leslie-Burl McLemore
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| Mayor of Jackson, Mississippi (Interim) | |
| In office May 7, 2009 – July 6, 2009 |
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| Preceded by | Frank Melton |
| Succeeded by | Harvey Johnson Jr. |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 17, 1940 Walls, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Betty Mallett |
| Profession | Activist, Professor, Councilman |
Leslie-Burl McLemore, born on August 17, 1940, is an American civil rights activist and a leader in politics. He comes from Walls, Mississippi. He was the temporary mayor of Jackson, Mississippi, for a short time in 2009. This happened after the mayor, Frank Melton, passed away. McLemore served until a new mayor, Harvey Johnson, Jr., took office.
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Early Life and Activism
Leslie-Burl McLemore was born in Walls, Mississippi, on August 17, 1940. His father was a sharecropper, and he was raised by his mother and his grandfather, Leslie Williams. His grandfather helped him become interested in politics and serving his community.
School Days and Early Protests
McLemore went to Delta Center High School. During his last year there, he joined his first political action. He took part in a boycott because the school library did not have any books about Black history.
In September 1960, McLemore started studying social science and economics at Rust College with a full scholarship. This is where he became deeply involved in the Civil Rights Movement. As the freshman class president, he helped boycott a movie theater in Holly Springs. The theater would not let Black people sit on the main floor.
Fighting for Civil Rights
While at Rust College, McLemore continued to be part of student protests. He joined the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). This group helped organize activities like voter registration drives. He also started the first chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) at Rust College. McLemore was a leader for the 1963 Freedom Ballot campaign in the northern region.
In 1964, during the famous Freedom Summer, McLemore helped create the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party (MFDP). He was the vice chair of this party. He was also a founding member of the MFDP Executive Committee and a delegate to the 1964 Democratic National Convention. Through his hard work, McLemore met and worked with other important activists. These included Ella Baker and Charles Sherrod. He later focused his political science research on the MFDP. His work was the first to formally study the impact of a local political movement.
A Career in Education
McLemore graduated from Rust College in 1964 with his first degree. He then went to Atlanta University and earned a master's degree in political science. Later, he received a doctorate degree in government from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Teaching and Leadership Roles
At the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, McLemore helped start the W.E.B. DuBois Department of African American Studies. He also completed special research programs at The Johns Hopkins University and Harvard University. After this, he began teaching at Jackson State University. He was the first Chair of the Department of Political Science there. He later became the Dean of the Graduate School and the first Director of the Office of Research. In 2010, he became the temporary president of Jackson State University.
He has written many articles and books about Black politics, southern politics, and the Civil Rights Movement. He co-wrote Freedom Summer: A Brief History with Documents and The Fannie Lou Hamer National Institute on Citizenship and Democracy: Engaging a Curriculum and Pedagogy.
The Hamer Institute
In 1997, McLemore became the first Director of the Fannie Lou Hamer National Institute on Citizenship and Democracy at Jackson State University. For over twenty years, the Hamer Institute held many summer programs. These programs were for students, teachers, and community members.
Political Service
McLemore was elected to the Jackson City Council in 1999. He represented the second ward for 10 years. For five of those years, he was the council president.
Serving as Interim Mayor
When Mayor Frank Melton passed away in 2009, McLemore stepped in as the acting mayor. McLemore decided not to run for re-election to his council seat. His term ended in July 2009. After that, he retired to focus all his efforts on the Hamer Institute.
Return to Walls, Mississippi
While teaching at Jackson State University, McLemore also returned to Walls, Mississippi. He served as a member of the Walls Board of Aldermen. In 2017, he made history again when he was elected. He became one of the first two Black elected officials in Walls, Mississippi, along with Curtis Farmer. In 2023, McLemore's hard work was recognized. The Mississippi Historical Society gave him its 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award for his achievements with the MFDP.
Family Life
McLemore is married to his wife, Attorney Betty Mallett. He has one son, Leslie McLemore II, who is a lawyer and writer in Washington D.C. His son is married to Jacinta W. McLemore. Leslie-Burl McLemore also has two grandchildren, Harper and Harlow.
