(NNPA)—Washington, D.C. just lost an icon. In the early morning hours of Nov. 23, D.C.’s Mayor for Life succumbed to some of the health challenges that have plagued him for several years. Even in ill health he was, as he had been all his life, an icon to the people, especially those in the poorest part of the city. He distributed turkeys to the poor every year. More importantly, he pushed legislation that would not punish felons when they applied for jobs.
Barry had a knack for championing for the least and the left out, the youth and the seniors, the homeless and the hungry. There are few politicians who are as consistent in their focus as Marion Barry.
As mayor, Barry was the architect of D.C.’s economic development, making city contracts available to minority businesses —that just needed a chance so they could thrive. Of course, he is rarely acknowledged for his role in the city’s economic development, although it has been one of his key accomplishments. Barry’s brilliance is also frequently unacknowledged. He was a dissertation away from a doctorate in chemistry when he joined the Civil Rights Movement. That accomplishment was exceptional given Barry’s impoverished background. His parents picked cotton for a living and few expected him to rise to the heights that he did.
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