Mel King, lifelong civil rights activist and leader in Boston, has died. The 94-year-old was hailed as 'ambassador-like' and a 'visionary' by generations of activists in the city and beyond.
Mel King, perhaps the most prominent activist and Black politician of Boston's 20th century, has died at age 94In a city that touts its history as a temporary home to two giants of the civil-rights movement, King was 100% home-grown.
King was a tireless organizer for decades — a natural leader, friends said — fighting against apartheid and multiple wars, and in favor of affordable housing, good paying jobs and more. Already in 1978, Ruth Batson, who started the METCO program, told WGBH she wasn’t aware of a promising city initiative that King hadn’t started or helped along — and always in a collaborative spirit.
King shared his whole life with Boston; he only ever left the South End at length for his four years at Claflin College, a historically Black institution in South Carolina. But at times, Boston took from him. In the late 1960s, King threw himself into a new and militant mode of struggle. He was prepared to defend the new stance, saying that Black America had learned hard lessons from American history — from the mass killing of Native Americans to the internment of the Japanese.Ever the optimist, King added that there was a better option on the table: the unconditional acceptance of African-Americans into a diverse and equal society — a revival of the lost world he'd loved as a child.
In his first term as governor, Dukakis worked — and sometimes warred — with King, whose agenda was broad and often surprising. He worked to expand community farming, protect community television, and to source clean and healthy food from across the state. Boston mayoral candidate Mel King listens to a question asked by opponent Ray Flynn in the Taylor Room at The Boston Globe in Boston on Oct. 27, 1983.
Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
The East Boston ferry makes a comebackSeasonal ferry service connecting Downtown Boston and East Boston resumed on Monday.
Read more »
Matthew Bowman: Russell M. Nelson — LDS ‘prophet’ and, just as important, ‘priest’Matthew Bowman: “The priest represents the people to God, supervising and offering ritual worship. The prophet represents God to the people, offering correction and instruction.”
Read more »
Bank of America signs on as new Boston Marathon sponsorThe Boston Marathon has agreed to a 10-year sponsorship deal with Bank of America that organizers hope will allow the world’s oldest 26.2-mile road race to grow over the next decade while maintaining its historic character.
Read more »
Extra Extra: The 'We ❤️ NYC' campaign didn't need to drag Boston into thisBecause other cities don't need to be alerted to our corny ad campaign, here are your end-of-day links: Coat Pope lives, the Hamptons is getting a true crime festival, early bird lotto sales and more.
Read more »
Bank of America Becomes Presenting Sponsor for Boston MarathonThe bank replaces long-time, Boston-based sponsor, John Hancock Financial.
Read more »
Boston investor takes North Dallas seniors communityBoston investor acquired the Preston of the Park Cities retirement community on the Dallas North Tollway.
Read more »