"Barry represented a strong black man who rose, fell and then rose again. He had become a sorely needed symbol of strength for many who felt powerless. Indeed, Barry's refusal to be invisible will ultimately serve as his most enduring legacy and make him impossible to forget." -Kevin P. Chavous (Washington Post)
Marion Barry
Marion Barry transformed the lives of black residents in Washington, DC during the 1960s and 1970s. In 1965, Washington, DC had over 600,000 people living in the city, 2/3 of whom were black. However, most government jobs were held by white men. Barry created policies and organized programs with his new ideas that directly benefited the city's poorest residents. While overcoming obstacles, Marion Barry worked toward changing the lives of struggling and unemployed African Americans in DC through education, skill training and job opportunities as well as building and inspiring the community. Barry was not only a leader for low income residents, he involved black residents in politics, created opportunities for government jobs and advocated for minority business owners, while creating a black middle class in DC. Marion Barry had a vision for Washington DC and strove to bring all people together.
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