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Charles Evers
On September 11, 1922, Civil Rights Activist, James Charles Evers Was Born In Decatur, Mississippi.
The Older Brother Of <span style="font-style: italic;">Medgar Evers</span> Introduced His Younger, Now More Well-Known Sibling, Into The Civil Rights Movement, But Was An Important Figure In His Own Right.
In 1956, Evers Moved To Chicago Where He Got Involved With Running Numbers For The "Mob," Managing Prostitutes And Other Forms Of Hustling. And While He Admits That His Lifestyle Was Less Than "Pristine," He Says He Has Always Been Committed To The Civil Rights Struggle And Used The Money He Made (And It Was A Substantial Amount) To Finance The Civil Right Movement In Mississippi.
Charles Evers Returned To Mississippi 1963, Following His Brother's Murder By Ku Klux Klan Member, Byron De La Beckwith. Angry And Determined To On Avenge Medgar's Death, He Eventually Decided To Channel His Energy In A More Positive Direction, In Order To Bring About Change For Black Mississippians.
He Took Over Medgar's Position As Head Of The <span style="font-style: italic;">NAACP</span>. In 1969, Evers Became Mayor Of <span style="font-style: italic;">Fayette</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">MS</span> -- <span style="font-style: italic;">The First Black To Become Mayor In A Racially-Mixed, Mississippi Town , Since Reconstruction</span>. He Popularized The Slogan, "<span style="font-style: italic;">Hands That Once Picked Cotton Can Now Pick The Mayor</span>."
As Mayor Of <span style="font-style: italic;">Fayette</span> His Impact Was Immediate. He Single-Handedly Created Jobs And Industry For The Small, Black Majority Town. Under His Administration, <span style="font-style: italic;">Jefferson</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">County</span> Received A Jobs Training Center, A City Courthouse And Jail, A Health Care Clinic And Apartments For The Poor And Elderly.
Evers Served As Mayor Of <span style="font-style: italic;">Fayette</span> For Several Terms. He Later Ran For Governor Of Mississippi --- Losing The Race, But Inspiring Other African American Candidates To Become Politically Active.
He Ran As An Independent Candidate For The <span style="font-style: italic;">U.S. Senate</span> In 1978. He Came In Third, Getting <span style="font-style: italic;">24%</span> Of The Mississippi Vote.
In 1996, His Autobiography, <span style="font-style: italic;">Have No Fear</span>, Was Published. Today Charles Evers Works Tirelessly As A Black Business Advocate. He Is Also An Adviser To Local And National Political Leaders. Most Importantly, He Continues His Role As An Activist For The Rights Of Black People In Mississippi And Around The World.
HAPPY 86TH BIRTHDAY, MR. "E!"
"<span style="font-style: italic;">In Order For Black History To Live, We Must Continue To Breathe Life Into It</span>." -- Hubert Gaddy, Jr.
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Charles Evers
On September 11, 1922, Civil Rights Activist, James Charles Evers Was Born In Decatur, Mississippi.
The Older Brother Of <span style="font-style: italic;">Medgar Evers</span> Introduced His Younger, Now More Well-Known Sibling, Into The Civil Rights Movement, But Was An Important Figure In His Own Right.
In 1956, Evers Moved To Chicago Where He Got Involved With Running Numbers For The "Mob," Managing Prostitutes And Other Forms Of Hustling. And While He Admits That His Lifestyle Was Less Than "Pristine," He Says He Has Always Been Committed To The Civil Rights Struggle And Used The Money He Made (And It Was A Substantial Amount) To Finance The Civil Right Movement In Mississippi.
Charles Evers Returned To Mississippi 1963, Following His Brother's Murder By Ku Klux Klan Member, Byron De La Beckwith. Angry And Determined To On Avenge Medgar's Death, He Eventually Decided To Channel His Energy In A More Positive Direction, In Order To Bring About Change For Black Mississippians.
He Took Over Medgar's Position As Head Of The <span style="font-style: italic;">NAACP</span>. In 1969, Evers Became Mayor Of <span style="font-style: italic;">Fayette</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">MS</span> -- <span style="font-style: italic;">The First Black To Become Mayor In A Racially-Mixed, Mississippi Town , Since Reconstruction</span>. He Popularized The Slogan, "<span style="font-style: italic;">Hands That Once Picked Cotton Can Now Pick The Mayor</span>."
As Mayor Of <span style="font-style: italic;">Fayette</span> His Impact Was Immediate. He Single-Handedly Created Jobs And Industry For The Small, Black Majority Town. Under His Administration, <span style="font-style: italic;">Jefferson</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">County</span> Received A Jobs Training Center, A City Courthouse And Jail, A Health Care Clinic And Apartments For The Poor And Elderly.
Evers Served As Mayor Of <span style="font-style: italic;">Fayette</span> For Several Terms. He Later Ran For Governor Of Mississippi --- Losing The Race, But Inspiring Other African American Candidates To Become Politically Active.
He Ran As An Independent Candidate For The <span style="font-style: italic;">U.S. Senate</span> In 1978. He Came In Third, Getting <span style="font-style: italic;">24%</span> Of The Mississippi Vote.
In 1996, His Autobiography, <span style="font-style: italic;">Have No Fear</span>, Was Published. Today Charles Evers Works Tirelessly As A Black Business Advocate. He Is Also An Adviser To Local And National Political Leaders. Most Importantly, He Continues His Role As An Activist For The Rights Of Black People In Mississippi And Around The World.
HAPPY 86TH BIRTHDAY, MR. "E!"
"<span style="font-style: italic;">In Order For Black History To Live, We Must Continue To Breathe Life Into It</span>." -- Hubert Gaddy, Jr.
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