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 August 17, 1940) is an American civil rights activist and political leader. He was born in Walls, Mississippi. He served as the temporary mayor of Jackson, Mississippi, for a short time. This happened after Mayor Frank Melton passed away in 2009. McLemore was mayor until Harvey Johnson, Jr. was elected again.
Early Life and Activism
Leslie-Burl McLemore was born in Walls, Mississippi, on August 17, 1940. His father was a sharecropper, which means he farmed land owned by someone else and shared the crops. Leslie was raised by his mother and his grandfather, Leslie Williams. His grandfather helped him become interested in politics and helping others.
He went to Delta Center High School. There, he first got involved in political action. In his senior year, he joined a boycott because the school library did not have any black history books.
In September 1960, McLemore started studying at Rust College. He received a full scholarship for social science and economics. It was at Rust College that he became deeply involved in the Civil Rights Movement. As the freshman class president, he took part in a boycott of a movie theater in Holly Springs. The theater would not let black people sit on the main floor.
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. These drives helped African Americans register to vote. He also started the first chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) at Rust College. McLemore helped coordinate 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. He was a delegate for the MFDP at the 1964 Democratic National Convention. Through his 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. He was the first to formally study how a local political movement made an impact.
Academic Career
McLemore earned his bachelor's degree from Rust College in 1964. He then went to Atlanta University for his master's degree in political science. Later, he earned his doctorate in government from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. At the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, McLemore helped start the W.E.B. DuBois Department of African American Studies.
He also had special research positions at The Johns Hopkins University and Harvard University. After that, he started teaching at Jackson State University. He was the first Chair of the Department of Political Science. He later became the Dean of the Graduate School. He also became the first Director of the Office of Research. In 2010, he became the temporary president of Jackson State University. He has written about black politics, southern politics, and the Civil Rights Movement. He co-authored books like Freedom Summer: A Brief History with Documents.
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, this institute held summer programs. These programs were for students, teachers, and community members.
Political Involvement
McLemore was elected to the Jackson City Council in 1999. He represented the second ward for 10 years. For 5 of those years, he was the council president. When Mayor Frank Melton passed away, McLemore also served 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 work full-time at the Hamer Institute.
While teaching at Jackson State University, McLemore also returned to Walls. He served as a member of the Walls Board of Aldermen. In 2017, he made history again. He became one of the first two black elected officials in Walls, Mississippi. The other was Curtis Farmer. In 2023, McLemore's hard work was recognized. The Mississippi Historical Society gave him its 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award. This award was for his achievements with the MFDP.
Family
McLemore is married to his wife, Attorney Betty Mallett. He has one son, Leslie McLemore II. His son is a lawyer and writer in Washington D.C. He is married to Jacinta W. McLemore. Leslie-Burl McLemore has two grandchildren, Harper and Harlow.
