"Weekend News with Chris Core" exclusive two-part interview with former Washington, DC Mayor Marion Barry
Marion Barry Bio
Marion S. Barry, Jr. is an American Democratic politician born in Itta Bena, Mississippi on March 6, 1936. He is the third of ten children. As a college student Marion Barry was a staunch supporter and participant in the civil rights movement. He was elected the first chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) where he worked with Martin Luther King Jr. and many other civil rights leaders. Barry moved to Washington, D.C. in 1965 to open a local chapter of SNCC.
In 1997 he founded PRIDE a federally funded program to provide job training to unemployed black men. Barry was elected to the DC school board in 1972. Barry was later elected an at-large member of Washington's first elected city council in 1974. Although considered the underdog Barry ran and was elected the second Mayor of Washington DC from 1979 to 1991.
He was the target of a high-profile 1990 arrest on drug charges, which prevented him from seeking reelection. After serving a 6 month prison sentence he returned to Washington and was elected to the DC city council in 1992. He then was re-elected as the 4th Mayor of Washington DC from 1995 to 1999. Today, Marion Barry again serves on the DC city council representing Ward 8.
- Born March 6, 1936
- Birthplace Itta Bena Mississippi
- Graduate of LeMoyne College and Fisk University
- Civil rights activist
- Founded PRIDE
- 2nd elected Mayor of Washington DC 1979- 1991
- Founded the Mayor Summer Work program for DC city youth
- Re-elected Mayor 1995-1999
- Ward 8 Council of the District of Columbia 2005-present
BARRY IS HUMAN AND HE IS TO MAKE MISTAKES LIKE ANY ONE ELSE. BUT GIVE CREDIT WHERE IT'S DO HE STILL HAS DONE GOOD IN DC. SO LET THE MAN BE. IN HIS OWN WAY HE HAS PAID HIS DEBT.
jyh32@verizon.n-et @ 1:35 PM EDT, Aug 26, 2009
Marion Berry will always be a favorite son of dc residents because before his entrapment by jealous republicans he was the only person who had cared about the folks east of the river
kim @ 10:45 AM EDT, Aug 16, 2009
It is ironic that so many people who did not live in the city or the region have such strong opinions about him. They can not know the impact he has had on this city. Mayor Barry made opportinities possible for African Americans that we would not otherwise have had.
Kevin @ 7:11 AM EDT, Aug 16, 2009
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