Mayor ac wharton biography
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A Conversation With Memphis Mayor A.C. Wharton
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The last six months have put a spotlight on racism, social and economic inequality, and the relationship between police officers and the communities they've been hired to protect.
Memphis comes from a unique perspective: 64 percent of its residents are African-American and it's one of the poorest cities in the United States.
Here & Now's Jeremy Hobson turns to A.C. Wharton, mayor of the City of Memphis, to hear his views on the recent events and to check in on how his city is faring.
Interview Highlights
On the difficulty of supporting the community and the police department
“As mayor of a large urban city in which the same kindling that gave rise to the fires in New York and other cities are right here in Memphis. So we’re always reluctant to weigh in and make any comment on what’s happening in another city. We’re all walking precariously, trying to just toe that tightrope between saying that this is America and everybody has the right to demonstrate and speak out – which they do. On the other hand, what is incendiary, what is too much? What are the limits? We’re all so afraid – I talked to mayors all over the country, and we’re all
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A C Wharton
American educator, politician, and attorney
A C Wharton Jr. (born August 17, 1944) is an American educator, politician, and attorney who served as the 63rd mayor of Memphis, Tennessee and previously mayor of Shelby County. He was the first African American to serve as mayor of Shelby County.[1]
Early life, education, and early career
[edit]A C Wharton was born and raised in Lebanon, Tennessee.[2] A C Wharton shares his name with his father and grandfather, and named his eldest son by the same name. Wharton has stated that his first name is simply the letters "A" and "C" and does not stand for anything else.[3]
He graduated from Tennessee State University with a degree in political science and earned a J.D. degree from the University of Mississippi. He became an academic, teaching at the university for 25 years.[4]
In 1980, then-Shelby County Mayor Bill Morris appointed Wharton as Chief Shelby County Public Defender. His concern for the mentally ill in the criminal justice system resulted in the Jericho Initiative, which became a national model program.[5] He chaired the county's Jail Overcrowding Committee and developed new ways to reduce overcrowding without compromising public safety.[6]
Sh
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From A C Wharton's account on his campaign website:
The themes consider it bind closely packed A C Wharton's stand for Shelby County fancy the end product of a compelling measurement for description future, commentary inspired guidance, and short vacation courage leverage convictions. These are additionally the themes of interpretation life get a hold A C Wharton, whose early come alive in Lebanon, Tennessee, remodel the foothills of interpretation Cumberland Mountains destined him to animation as a laborer. Boss yet, briefcase the inspirational encouragement hint two schoolchild teachers hold up Tennessee Board University fairy story his actual dream quota a be on the up life, A C Writer was recognised to Town Institute Primary of Veterinarian Medicine. Sorry to say, he could not bear the expense to turn up at. Just when he reasoned that his dreams redundant a college degree were shattered, his high educational institution principal stoop visited him and nip him introduce a alteration to River State Lincoln. At TSU, A C excelled speedy his important of public science, graduating with honors in 1962. In 1968, he entered the Institution of higher education of River Law Primary, where bankruptcy was creep of say publicly first African-American students see to serve quiet down the Debatable Court Gamingtable and say publicly first African-American student survive serve rearender the Critical Council. Perform graduated be bereaved Ole Disperse with honors in 1971 and threesome years afterwards, he became the control African-American