Marion Barry (March 6, 1936 – November 23, 2016) was a District of Columbia mayor and Council member. Born in rural Mississippi to sharecroppers, Marion Barry was elected mayor of D.C. four times. He also served three different tenures as a Council member. Marion Barry is one of the most infamous politicians in the history of the District of Columbia. Also, he is one of the few African-Americans to have a statue in the capitol of the country. He is buried at the esteemed and private Congressional Cemetery. Unfortunately, through all fault of his own, he has been called everything from a hero and role model, to a thug and cheating scoundrel. It seems Barry just wanted to be remembered, and by any name necessary.
Marion Barry earned a Masters Degree in chemistry from Fisk University. In 1960, he became National Chairman of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). Barry arrived in D.C. in 1965 to open a new chapter of SNCC. He formed Pride, Inc. which put black men to work in jobs and also gave him a platform. In 1979, he was elected to serve his first term as mayor. His second term was plagued with scandals of wasteful and fraudulent spending, womanizing, strip-clubs, and drug abuse. Marion Barry was addicted to drugs. He appeared in public showing the effects of drug abuse. It was during his third term as mayor when he was caught in a F.B.I. sting possessing and using crack cocaine in a hotel room with a former girlfriend. Claiming to have been set-up, he continued to work as mayor through his arrest and trial.
Even though he served six months in federal prison, he didn’t let that stop his political career. After his release from prison, he served on the city council and was re-elected as mayor in 1995. It seemed as long as long as he was able to seek forgiveness for his transgressions, the people allowed him to serve. Although some citizens believed he helped create and was part of the problems of the city, others were willing to forgive and forget. He related to many citizens and they saw their struggles in him. Black churches endorsed him and he ran on the motto of imperfection and forgiveness. After his last term as mayor ended in 1999, Barry served on the Council from 2005 – 2014. In the end, Marion Barry believed he served as an inspiration to others like him.