Biography
Kweisi Mfume, born Frizzell Gerard Gray on October 24, 1948, in Baltimore, Maryland, is a Democratic U.S. Representative for Maryland's 7th congressional district. Raised in Baltimore, he overcame early personal challenges, including the loss of his mother and economic hardships, to become a prominent political figure and civil rights advocate. He legally changed his name to Kweisi Mfume, meaning "conquering son of kings," in the early 1970s.
Mfume's political career began with his election to the Baltimore City Council in 1979, where he served until 1986. In 1987, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Maryland's 7th district until 1996. During his tenure, he chaired the Congressional Black Caucus from 1993 to 1995. In 1996, Mfume resigned from Congress to serve as President and CEO of the NAACP, a position he held until 2004. He returned to Congress in 2020 after winning a special election to fill the seat left vacant by the passing of Elijah Cummings.
Education
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Morgan State University: Bachelor of Science in Urban Planning, magna cum laude, 1976.
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Johns Hopkins University: Master of Arts in Liberal Arts with a concentration in International Studies, 1984.
Political Experience
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Baltimore City Council: Member from 1979 to 1986; chaired the City Council’s Committee on Health Policy.
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U.S. House of Representatives:
- Served from 1987 to 1996 and from 2020 to present.
- Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus .
- Member of the Banking and Financial Services Committee, Committee on Education, and Small Business Committee.
- Elected Chairman of the Joint Economic Committee of the House and Senate during his fifth term.
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NAACP: President and CEO from 1996 to 2004.
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Committee Assignments:
- Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.
- Member of the House Committee on Small Business.
- Appointed to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs in 2024.
Notable Achievements
- Co-sponsored and helped pass the Americans with Disabilities Act.
- Strengthened the Equal Credit Opportunity Law.
- Co-authored and amended the Civil Rights Bill of 1991 to apply its provisions to U.S. citizens working for American-based companies abroad.
- Sponsored legislative initiatives banning assault weapons and establishing stalking as a federal crime.
- As NAACP President, negotiated the first-ever "Network Television Diversity Agreements" with major networks in 2000.
- In Congress, passed legislation to address the need for diversity in clinical cancer trials and codified the Minority Business Development Agency.
Throughout his career, Representative Mfume has been a steadfast advocate for civil rights, economic empowerment, and social justice.
