Rufus Mayfield facts for kids
Rufus G. "Catfish" Mayfield is an American activist, community organizer, and civil rights worker. He helped start Destiny-Pride, Inc., a group in Washington, D.C. that worked to make life better for African-American young people.
Contents
Who is Rufus "Catfish" Mayfield?
Rufus Mayfield was born in Washington, D.C. He grew up in a neighborhood called Parkside. He was the youngest of six children. His parents were Rufus Sr. and Hattie Mayfield. He went to Neval Thomas Elementary School and Woodson Junior High.
Growing up, D.C. was very segregated. This meant people of different races often lived in separate areas. Rufus lived in Parkside, which was one of several neighborhoods. People usually stayed within their own "section."
Rufus's mother, Hattie Lee Mayfield, was a big influence. She had trouble reading and writing. Rufus spent time trying to teach her. He admired how she cared for their family. His father, Rufus Mayfield Sr., taught him about being responsible.
As a young person, Rufus faced some challenges. He spent time in youth centers. He later realized these difficulties were often linked to feeling unsure about himself. He wanted to gain attention from others.
In 1973, Rufus met his wife, Nancy Carter. They had three children together.
Starting Destiny-Pride, Inc.
In 1967, Rufus Mayfield became the chairman of Destiny-Pride, Inc.. This organization was created to help young Black people in D.C. It gave jobs to about 1,400 youths. They earned money each week, which helped keep them busy and off the streets.
The young workers cleaned city streets and alleys. They also helped with pest control. On weekends, many youths worked long hours. They did this while also going to school during the week.
When Destiny-Pride, Inc. first started, they received $300,000 in government money. This was just enough to get them through the summer. When they asked for more, some officials were hesitant. But after getting nearly 30,000 signatures on a petition, their funding grew. It reached $2.3 million in later years.
Standing Up for Justice
Rufus Mayfield started Destiny-Pride, Inc. after seeing how unfair treatment affected people. When he was 17, his friend, Clarence Booker, was involved in a tragic incident with a police officer. Rufus felt strongly that his friend deserved justice.
This event motivated Rufus to act. He led protests to seek fairness for his friend. Many young people joined these protests. One protest included a hearse with a coffin. This was a symbol to remember Clarence Booker.
Marion Barry, a future mayor, and Sterling Tucker, from the National Urban League, supported these efforts. They helped gather other D.C. activists. Despite their hard work, the officer involved was not charged.
Rufus met Ruth Bates Harris, who led the Commission on Human Rights. He wanted her help. Through their discussions, the idea for Destiny-Pride, Inc. was born. Rufus realized that young Black people needed to feel important. He wanted to remind them of their value.
Making a Difference in D.C.
Destiny-Pride, Inc. was a unique organization. It helped bring people together in the Black community. Rufus believed in helping each other first. He felt that the community needed to work together to improve.
Mayfield set up "section chiefs" in each neighborhood. These leaders helped reduce conflicts like fights and stabbings. Their efforts brought unity. Over 1,400 young people from different areas joined Pride, Inc.
In 1968, Rufus Mayfield and Marion Barry had a disagreement. Barry felt Rufus was too aggressive in his approach. Rufus believed more still needed to be done to fight unfair treatment. They eventually went their separate ways.
A Voice for the Community
After leaving Pride, Inc., Rufus Mayfield continued his activism. He was contacted by Jerry Brenner from CBS. This led to speaking tours across the country. He spoke at universities like the University of Minnesota Duluth. He wanted his voice to be heard.
In 1970, he received a scholarship to George Washington University. He studied Business Administration there. He later left to work with Common Cause. He helped in the movement to allow 18-year-olds to vote. Rufus also wrote a weekly column for the Minneapolis Star. It was called "'A Voice from the Ghetto' by Rufus ‘Catfish’ Mayfield."
Later, Rufus Mayfield worked for the government in the Department of Human Services. He wanted to use his activism there. He worked to improve the environment for the people they served.
Rufus Mayfield met Dr. King before the Poor People's Campaign. Rufus had worked on this campaign. Dr. King spoke about unity and resistance. His words helped Rufus. Dr. King told Rufus, "Catfish, I look forward to working with you." Sadly, Dr. King was assassinated shortly after.
|
