Saturday, November 15, 2014

Mickey Leland-Congressman from the Texas & chair of the Congressional Black Caucus.

George Thomas "Mickey" Leland was an anti-poverty activist who later became a Congressman from the Texas 18th District and chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. He was a Democrat.
Born in Lubbock, Texas, Leland attended Wheatley High School in Houston, Texas and obtained a bachelor's from Texas Southern University in Houston.
In 1972, Texas for the 1st time allowed its State House of Representatives and Senate seats to be elected as single-member districts. Soon after the decision, 5 minority candidates (dubbed the "People's Five"), including eventual winners Leland, Craig Washington and Benny Reyes ran for district seats in the Texas House of Representatives, a 1st for a state that, although Barbara Jordan had been a state senator, had not seen any African-American state representatives since Reconstruction. Leland remained in the state legislature until he was elected to Congress in 1979. He remained in Congress until his death, being reelected to the United States House of Representatives every two years. Leland was an effective advocate on hunger and public health issues. In 1984 Leland established the congressional select committee on Hunger and initiated a number of programs designed to assuage the famine crises that plagued Ethiopia and Sudan through much of the 1980s. Leland pioneered many afro-centric cultural norms in Washington which included wearing a dashiki and African style hats.Leland was an effective advocate on hunger and public health issues. In 1984 Leland established the congressional select committee on Hunger and initiated a number of programs designed to assuage the famine crises that plagued Ethiopia and Sudan through much of the 1980s. Leland pioneered many afro-centric cultural norms in Washington which included wearing a dashiki and African style hats.
Leland was an effective advocate on hunger and public health issues. In 1984 Leland established the congressional select committee on Hunger and initiated a number of programs designed to assuage the famine crises that plagued Ethiopia and Sudan through much of the 1980s. Leland pioneered many afro-centric cultural norms in Washington which included wearing a dashiki and African style hats.

1 comment:

  1. My hero forever. I am still a "Mickey Leland Democrat." Thank you, Mickey, for all you sacrificed, including your life, to improve the lives of those less fortunate.

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