Parren Mitchell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Parren Mitchell
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| Chair of the House Small Business Committee | |
| In office January 3, 1981 – January 3, 1987 |
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| Preceded by | Neal Smith |
| Succeeded by | John LaFalce |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Maryland's 7th district |
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| In office January 3, 1971 – January 3, 1987 |
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| Preceded by | Samuel Friedel |
| Succeeded by | Kweisi Mfume |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Parren James Mitchell
April 29, 1922 Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
| Died | May 28, 2007 (aged 85) Towson, Maryland, U.S. |
| Resting place | Arlington National Cemetery Arlington, Virginia |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Hazel Johnson
(m. 1958; died 1963) |
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| Education |
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| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1942–1945 |
| Unit | 92nd Infantry Division |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
Parren James Mitchell (born April 29, 1922 – died May 28, 2007) was an important American politician. He served as a U.S. Congressman for Maryland from 1971 to 1987. He was a member of the Democratic Party. Parren Mitchell made history as the first African American person elected to Congress from Maryland.
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Early Life and Education
Parren Mitchell was born in Baltimore, Maryland. His father, Clarence Maurice Mitchell, worked as a waiter. His mother, Elsie Davis Mitchell, took care of their home. Parren Mitchell finished Frederick Douglass Senior High School in Baltimore in 1940.
Military Service in World War II
During World War II, Mitchell served as an officer. He was part of the 92nd Infantry Division. He was hurt while fighting in Italy and received the Purple Heart medal. This medal is given to soldiers wounded in battle.
Fighting for Equal Education
After the war, Mitchell continued his education. He earned his first degree from Morgan State University. Then, he wanted to go to graduate school at the University of Maryland, College Park. At that time, the university was segregated, meaning Black students were not allowed.
In 1950, Mitchell sued the university with help from the NAACP. He won his case and was allowed to attend. When he graduated, he was the first African American to earn a degree from that school.
Before graduate school, Mitchell was active in the early Civil Rights Movement in Baltimore. He protested against unfair seating rules at Ford's Theatre. He also spoke out against unequal funding for teacher training in segregated Black schools. His brother, Clarence Mitchell Jr., was also a major leader in the Civil Rights Movement.
Congressional Career
In 1970, Parren Mitchell ran for Congress again. He won by a very small number of votes. This victory made him the first African American person elected to Congress from Maryland. After this, he was re-elected seven more times. He was very popular in his district.
Founding the Congressional Black Caucus
Mitchell was one of the first members of the Congressional Black Caucus. This group is made up of African American members of Congress. In 1971, the caucus, which had 12 members, decided not to attend President Richard M. Nixon's State of the Union speech. They did this because Nixon had refused to meet with them. Eventually, Nixon met with the group a few weeks later.
Fighting for Fairness in Business
During his 16 years in Congress, Mitchell worked hard for laws that would help minority-owned businesses. As the leader of the Small Business Committee, he added an important rule to a large public works bill. This rule said that state and local governments getting federal money had to set aside 10% of the funds. This money was meant to hire minority-owned businesses for construction projects.
Mitchell also helped many young, rising leaders. Several people he mentored later became important public officials themselves.
In 1986, Mitchell decided to leave Congress. He ran for Lieutenant Governor of Maryland but did not win. Later in his life, after some health issues, he still made appearances at community events.
Death and Lasting Impact
Parren Mitchell passed away on May 28, 2007, from pneumonia. He was 85 years old.
Many people honored him at his funeral. Important leaders like Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara Mikulski spoke about his work. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Governor Martin O'Malley also paid tribute. Congressman Elijah Cummings gave a speech, saying Mitchell "earned the trust of people throughout the country and the world because he was constantly building bridges for others to cross, while tearing down the walls that had excluded them."
In 2015, the University of Maryland, College Park renamed one of its buildings in his honor. This was a special way to remember his fight for equal education and his important contributions.
See also
